Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Planicephalus flavocostatus - No Common Name

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: Deltocephalini
Taxonomic Author: (Van Duzee, 1892)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A small leafhopper that is very highly variable in coloration, from pale stramineous to very dark (nearly all black). There is a small pale yellow border to the costal margin of the wings; another small white dash is found closer to the wingtip, and the wingtip itself has a white edge. The venation is pale. There are several small white dots on the front of the head and behind the eyes. The crown, pronotum, and scutellum tend to be the same color as the underside. Typically, the pronotum is faintly longitudinally striped; the scutellum is darkened at basal angles, grading to entirely dark fuscous or black with scattered light areas on the crown. The legs are pale brown. The female pregenital sternite is narrowed posteriorly, with the posterior margin more or less sinuate (sometimes with four feebly developed lobes). Adult males are 2.8-3.3 mm long, while females are 3.2-3.6 mm. (Kramer, 1971)

Nymphs are an overall brownish color with a black tip to the abdomen and several dark brown abdominal segments.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Found in the eastern United States, from the Northeast south to the Gulf Coast; also New Brunswick.
Abundance: Widespread across the state.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Grassy, brushy areas
Plant Associates: Alfalfa, Bermuda grass, crab grass (Kramer, 1971)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Due to the broad range overlap of P. flavicosta and P. flavocostatus (both species occur in the state), and the similarity in the appearance of the two species (both essentially have identical coloration, and the pregenital sternites are similar), the only true way to distinguish the two species is based on male genitalia.
Status: Native
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