Hoppers of North Carolina

Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Athysanus argentarius - Silver Leafhopper

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Deltocephalinae

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A distinctive leafhopper, nothing else in the state looks like it. A silvery, sometimes light brown color overall with brown lateral stripes on the wings and several dark lateral stripes on the thorax. The outer edge of the wings has a bold pale border, and there is a bold, characteristic black line on the head between the eyes. Adults are 6.5-8 mm long. Nymphs have a grayish body with brown lateral stripes, a pale bold border on the side of the developing wings and abdomen, and a characteristic wide head. (BG)

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Out of State Record(s)

Distribution: Native to Europe, introduced to North America (first NA record in MA in 1920) where it is most common in the Northeast and eastern Canada (BG).

Abundance: Only recorded from a few counties in the mountains, where it is locally common; probably more abundant in the right habitat, especially in the mountains.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Coastal and inland grassland areas (BG)

Plant Associates: Grasses; there is some evidence that in North America it prefers introduced species of grasses, such as those found in lawns and hayfields (BG).

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species has been implicated in the spread of an incurable plant disease called aster yellows (BG), which can destroy the vegetation in a field and even affect nearby trees.

Status: Introduced

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Athysanus argentarius Silver Leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Caldwell Co. Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Caldwell Co. Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Caldwell Co. Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Out Of State Co. Comment: Attracted to Light	Photo by: Paul Scharf Out Of State Co. Comment: Attracted to Light

Athysanus argentarius - Silver Leafhopper

Species Photo Gallery for Athysanus argentarius Silver Leafhopper