Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Graminella sonora - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Deltocephalinae

Tribe: Deltocephalini

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A pale tan species with four bold black dots on the edge of the vertex; the two inner dots are noticeably larger than the two dots at the apex, characteristic of this species. Adults are small, around 3.0 mm long or smaller. The combination of the coloration and pattern, together with the small size, are key characteristics for distinguishing this species from others in the genus; the wing venation is also more complicated than in other members of the genus, with more small cells. The individual male genital plates are triangular in shape, with sharp apexes that are divergent from one another. The female pregenital sternite has a moderate, rounded excavation on the medial half of the posterior margin, with a slight convex tooth in the middle and convex lateral margins to the sternite; the excavation is bordered with brown. For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser.

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: Found throughout much of the United States, into Central America and the Caribbean

Abundance: Recorded from primarily the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, where it can be locally common; probably more abundant in the right habitat.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been found in a grassy, open area near forest edge.

Plant Associates:

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species is a known vector of sorghum stunt mosaic rhabdovirus (SSMV) and can therefore cause economic agricultural damage. (APS)

This species could be mistaken for the much larger G. fitchii: both have similar coloration and pale faces. However, fitchii has very bold pale wing venation that contrasts with the rest of the wings, and the pronotal lines are boldly defined; in sonora, the wing venation does not stronly contrast with the rest of the wings. Additionally, the black markings on the vertex of sonora are two different sizes, with the two central spots noticeably smaller than the outer ones. In fitchii, these spots are relatively the same size.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Graminella sonora No Common Name
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping.
	Photo by: Solomon Hendrix Wake Co. Comment: attracted to light	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard with woods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard with woods.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.1 mm, came to UV/CFL light at night
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.1 mm, came to UV/CFL light at night	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.1 mm, came to UV/CFL light at night
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163304	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163313
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34808377
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: John Fones Dare Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: male, 2.8 mm long
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: male, 2.8 mm long	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: male, 2.8 mm long

Graminella sonora - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Graminella sonora No Common Name