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

Latalus sayii - Say's Leafhopper

Latalus sayii
© Kyle Kittelberger- side view		Latalus sayii
© Kyle Kittelberger		Latalus sayii
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view		Latalus sayii
© Scott Bolick
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: Paralimnini
Taxonomic Author: (Fitch, 1851)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
Description: A small, yellowish to brownish leafhopper with broad transverse white 'bands' contrasting with dark 'bands' on the wings, giving individuals a banded appearance that is characteristic of this species; the 'bands' are just pale or dark wing cells and/or venation. The wing tips have a black edge, and the underside of the face and thorax is dark. The vertex has four fuscous spots arranged in two rows towards the apex; the anterior spots are triangular, and the posterior pair is irregular in shape. The underside of the abdomen is banded, with alternating orange and black bands. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin shallowly concave/rounded. The male subgenital plates have the outer margins slightly and concavely narrowed towards the apexes. (DeLong 1948)

For diagrams of this species, see: 3I.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Eastern and central North America (3I)
Abundance: Recorded from the mountains where it appears to be locally abundant; also from several counties in the Piedmont.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Grassy, open areas with shrubby vegetation; meadow and pasures
Plant Associates: Bluegrass, probably other grass species (DeLong 1948)
Behavior:
Comment:
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Latalus sayii Say's Leafhopper 22

Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Nora Murdock, Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: Collected with beat sheet		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Nora Murdock, Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: Collected with beat sheet
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment: Collected while sweep-netting an infrequently mowed field. 		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in a grassy field. 		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Grassy field.		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Grassy field.
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: B. Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: MARI		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Weedy edge near hardwoods.
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Surry Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn
Burke Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn
Burke Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn
Burke Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, open area with shrubby vegetation and mixed forest nearby
Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, open area with shrubby vegetation and mixed forest nearby		Latalus sayiiPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, open area with shrubby vegetation and mixed forest nearby