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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Empoascini unidentified species - No Common Name


No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeSynonym: Empoasca unidentified species
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: Greenish to yellowish-green overall. Sometimes with pale spots on the head on either side of a pale midline, which is not always present. The pronotum sometimes has three pale spots along the anterior margin. The scutellum may have a broad white band in the middle. The wings are typically clear, sometimes greenish; there are no dark spots. Adults are around 3 mm long.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Primarily eastern and central North America
Abundance: Found throughout the state, typically common where found.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Grassy, field-type habitat; open and mixed hardwood forest; etc.
Plant Associates: See respective species links below.
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Empoasca is a very large genus, with many, many species occurring in not only North America but also the eastern United States. The genus is currently undergoing taxonomic revision, which should hopefully make identifications a bit easier in the future. For the time being, it is very likely that outside of a small number of species, identification to species level will not be possible without at least a view of the male subgenital plates or female pregenital sternite, and more likely dissection of a male. E. fabae is one exception, as a clear image showing the characteristic 6 pale spots along the anterior margin should allow for an identification to species level; most other Empoasca listed below either have 3 spots or lack spots altogether. E. coccinea is another exception, as it tends to have a somewhat distinctive color pattern. This page exists as an umbrella for any Empoasca photographed in the state that cannot reliably be identified to species level. Below are the description of greenish Empoasca that have been recorded in the state; information came from: 3I, (DeLong, 1931)

bifurcata- A bright green species with a golden-yellow head that is mottled with paler yellow around the ocelli. The pronotum is greenish with golden-yellow coloration; there are three large white spots on the anterior margin, one in the middle and one behind each eye. The scutellum has a broad central white longitudinal band. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The wings lack any spots and are a bright green color; the apices are not colored and the venation is green. The male subgenital plates are long, slender and pointed; they are slightly divergent from one another and curve backwards near the apices, unique for and characteristic of this species. The female pregenital sternite is rectangular, being wider than it is long; there is a very slight median projection. Adults are 3.2-3.5 mm long. For images of this species, see: BG.

coccinea- A green to reddish species, varying from dull green to bright red; when green, there is typically a reddish tint. The crown lacks any pale spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The head is roundedly produced and bulbous, without any noticeable projection. The wings lack any dark markings and were greenish or smoky sybhyaline. The legs are green. The male subgenital plates are broad at the base but taper to pointed acute apices; they are slender. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin broadly and roundedly produced; it is more than twice as long as the previous segment. Adults are around 3.0-3.2 mm long. See: 1.

delongi- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color with few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks any pale spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates are pointed and divergent from one another.

erigeron- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color with few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The vertex usually has a pale median stripe and pale, curved parenthesis mark on either side. The pronotum has three large white spots on the anterior margin, one in the middle and one behind each eye; otherwise the pronotum is yellowish-green. The scutellum has a pale midline. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates are long, slender and pointed, diverging outwards from one another. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin roundedly produced. Adults are around 3.0 mm long.

fabae- A pale green species, sometimes yellowish, typically with a row of six white spots along the anterior margin of the pronotum. These spots are evenly spaced from one another and are characteristic of this species, though sometimes these spots are missing or are indistinct. The vertex often has pale or dark green spots: the midline is pale and there are pale dashes on either side. The scutellum has the lateral triangles typically outlined with white, with multiple pale lines instead of a single central pale band. The head is broadly rounded, only slightly pointed. The wings are greenish subhyaline. The male subgenital plates are long and slender, curving outwards near the tips and tapering to acute apices; they are divergent from one another. The female pregenital sternite is moderately produced and roundedly truncated; it appears largely rectangular. Adults are around 3.5 mm long. See: 1.

fabalis- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates have a wide base before narrowing about halfway and tapering; they are divergent from one another. The male subgenital plates are long, slender and narrow, strongly diverging from one another. The female pregenital sternite is rectangular, with a largely straight posterior margin.

recurvata- The dorsum is a green color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings and has three white spots, which may sometimes be fused, along the anterior margin. The vertex is strongly rounded and bulbous; it has a pair of pale green spots near the margin. The wings lack any spots and are yellowish-green. The male subgenital plates are long and slender with acute, upturned apices. This species resembles E. bifurcata in general appearance. Adults are around 2.75 mm long.

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Below are species that have not yet been recorded in North Carolina but have been found in surrounding states and could therefore likely occur here. Descriptions are a combination of information coming from the following sources: 3I, (DeLong, 1931), (DeLong & Howard, 1935), (DeLong & Howard, 1936), (DeLong & Davidson, 1938)

abrupta- Green marked with white. The vetex has a median pale stripe, with a pair of oblique dashes on either side and a pair at the base. The pronotum usually has three large white spots on the anterior margin and a broad white stripe across the middle of the scutellum. The wings are greenish, subhyaline with green venation. The male subgenital plates are broad at the base before narrowing and tapering to pointed apices; they are divergent from one another. The female pregenital sternite is roundedly produced, more than twice the length of the preceding sternite. The vertex is produced and bluntly angled. This species resembles E. fabae in size, form, and appearance but usually has different markings. Adults are around 3.5 mm long.

chelata- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color, sometimes bright green with an orange tinge; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks any pale spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates are pointed and divergent from one another. This species resembles E. bifurcata in appearance. The vertex is produced and bluntly angled. Male subgenital plates are long and tapered to blunt apices. The female pregenital sternite is roundedly produced. Adults are around 3.0 mm long.

curvata- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. Brown or tan mottling present, consisting of large fuscous areas. The crown lacks any pale spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots.

decurvata- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates have a wide base before narrowing about halfway and tapering; they are divergent from one another. The vertex is produced and bluntly angled.

dentata- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. There are three pale dashes on the basal portion of the vertex and three pale spots on the anterior margin of the pronotum. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The vertex is produced and bluntly angled. Male subgenital plates are long and narrow, covered with long hairs. The female pregenital sternite is roundedly produced. This species resembles E. erigeron in general appearance. Adults are around 3.0 mm long.

distracta- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates widen before narrowing about halfway and tapering; they are divergent from one another. The vertex is produced and bluntly angled.

esuma- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color, ranging to brownish overall; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. Brown or tan mottling is present, consisting of large fuscous areas; the wings have a prominant dark saddle across the base, near the scutellum. The crown lacks round spots but has a pale midline with oblique dashes on either side. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings but has three large pale spots on the anterior margin; the scutellum has a thick pale midline. The male subgenital plates are thick with a wide base before slightly narrowing about halfway; they are slightly divergent from one another. For images of this species, see: esuma.

hama- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates have a wide base before narrowing about halfway and tapering; they are divergent from one another.

junipera- A dark green species tinted with brown; the vertex is yellow-green, with a bright green area above the apex. The pronotum has a pale area behind either eye. It has the most pointed head of any member of the genus. The face and underside are yellowish to green. The wings are brownish-green, lacking any dark markings; the apices are smoky. The male subgenital plates are short and narrow, with upturned tips. The female pregenital sternite is more than twice as long as the preceding segment; the psoterior margin is almost truncated, with indents on either side of a central lobe that is slightly produced. Adults are 3.0-3.3 mm long. See here for pics of this species: BG.

pallida- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates together are V-shaped, tapering to bluntly pointed apices; they are divergent from one another.

pergrada- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. There are usually three longitudinal pale areas on the vertex. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings and has three pale spots along the anterior margin; there is a transverse pale spot on the scutellum. The vertex is strongly produced and bluntly angled. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates have a broad, thick base, with an outer margin that curves inward halfway before curving back out; they are well-rounded at the apex and are divergent from one another. The female pregenital sternite is roundedly produced on the posterior margin. Adults are around 3.0 mm long.

perlonga- The dorsum is a pale, dull green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The vertex is weakly produced and broadly, bluntly angled. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates are widest in the middle and curve inwards toward one another. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin roundedly produced. This species resembles E. coccinea in general appearance. Adults are around 3.0 mm long.

plebeia- The dorsum is a green color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The vertex is angularly produced. The wings lack any spots and are greenish subhyaline in color. The male subgenital plates are long and narrow with upturned tips. This species resembles E. bifurcata in general appearance. Adults are around 3.0 mm long.

radiata- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The vertex has a pale midline and oblique dahses to the side. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings and has large white spots along the anterior margin; the scutellum has the posterior half white. The vertex is strongly angled. The wings lack any spots but have a reddish-orange stripe along the claval suture and along the anterior half of the commissure; otherwise the wings are pale green. The male subgenital plates have a curved outer margin, diverging away from one another. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin roundedly notched on either side of a produced central lobe. Adults are around 2.75 mm long.

recta- The dorsum is a pale green to yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots.

sativae- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The female pregenital sternite is somewhat rectangular, with a straight, curved posterior margin; wider than it is long.

solana- The dorsum is a bright green, washed with yellow. The vertex and pronotum are strongly tinged with golden yellow, and the scutellum has a white median stripe and white spots on the posterior half. The vertex is bluntly produced. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The wings lack any spots and are greenish sybhyaline with a yellowish tint. This species resembles E. fabae but differs in being bright green without any markings on the vertex or pronotum. Adults are 3.3 mm long.

torqua- The dorsum is green washed with yellow, with few cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. Brown or tan mottling is present, with large fuscous areas. The vertex has white markings; the vertex is roundedly produced. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings; there are three large spots on the anterior margin of the pronotum and the central portion of the scutellum is white. The wings lack any spots and are greenish overall. The male subgenital plates are long and slender, tapering to acute apices; they strongly diverge from one another, together resembling a V shape. This species resembles E. fabae. Adults are 3.0 mm long.

vergena- The dorsum is a pale green or yellow color; there are few symmetrical cream-colored markings on the head and thorax. The crown lacks round spots. The face is pale, without any dark spots. The pronotum lacks any dark markings. The wings lack any spots. The male subgenital plates have wide bases and are thickest in the middle before narrowing and tapering at the apices; they are slightly divergent from one another.

Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Empoascini unidentified species No Common Name

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
Avery 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: Two nymphs and adult on same twig. - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: Two nymphs and adult on same twig. - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: Two nymphs and adult on same twig. - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: Two nymphs and adult on same twig. - 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: B. Bockhahn
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172437448
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: 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: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Photo by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 3.5 mm male
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 3.5 mm male
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 3.5 mm male
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 3.5 mm male
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 3.5 mm male
Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91065313
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91065313
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83075139
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547512
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547512
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80176974 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80176974 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80176974 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77630903
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 3.2 mm
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 3.2 mm
Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: Mixed hardwood forest; female
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47920796
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49981075
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52984747
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52984747
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53864528
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736369
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736364
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56173626
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56173626
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57975458
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58376980
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63784628
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64969423
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Macon Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52609703 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Macon Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52609683 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47920833 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Weedy area near a hardwoods. - unid_leafhopper - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: moth sheet - unid_leafhopper