Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Erythroneura tricincta (Fitch, 1851) - Three-banded Leafhopper CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A boldly marked but variable species with a yellow or white dorsum and a [typically] dark brown to black color pattern. There are two parallel pale yellow-orange lines on the head, though this mark may not be as bold or visible on some individuals; the midline is pale. The body has three dark transverse bands- on the thorax, middle of the wings, and wing tip. The thoracic band extends across the upper part of the mesonotum/scutellum and the pronotum, a key characteristic for this species; the rest of the scutellum is yellowish. The side of the band facing the vertex typically fades into the head, which is whitish. The band across the wings typically is broad, though band width can vary among individuals and even be a truncated bowtie shape. In some adults, the median band can have a reddish-tinge. The wing tips are blackish, and there is a large black spot on the costal margin of each wing, though this spot sometimes blends in with the dark median band. The face and underside of the thorax are completely pale. Adults are 2.9-3.3 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007)

Nymphs are pale with two incomplete blackish bands, one on the pronotum and the other on the base of the wing stubs.

For more images of this species, see: BG.

distribution

Central and eastern United States and southeastern Canada (3I)

abundance

Has been recorded recently from several counties across the state, where it is locally common (at least in the Piedmont); likely more abundant in the right habitat.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Mixed hardwood forest, hedgerows, grapefields (BG)

plant associates

Primarily Vitis spp. (Grape), also on Aesculus sp. (3I)

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light. There are one to two generations of this species each year, and adults overwinter in leaf litter (BG).

comments

E. tricincta is similar in appearance to E. calycula and E. integra, but has different coloration and pattern. Additionally, reddish individuals of E. tricincta, with reddish tinting to the wing bands, could be confused with dark individuals of E. diva; however, note that the pronotum of tricincta is dark brown to blackish whereas it is predominantly reddish in diva, contrasting with the dark brown scutellum.

status

[Native:] [Introduced:] [Extirpated:]

list_type

[Official:] [Provisional:]

adult_id

Unmistakable and widely known Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens
Identifiable from photos showing undersides, or other specialized views [e.g., legs, face]
Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis NULL

nymph_id

Unmistakable and widely known Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants
Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis
Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood NULL

G_rank

S_rank

rank_comments

tribe

Erythroneurini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Erythroneura tricincta Three-banded Leafhopper
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf, Patrick Coin Halifax Co. Comment: grassy area and mixed hardwood forest edge near pine forest	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to ultraviolet light.
	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: moth sheet - unid_leafhopper	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: T. DeSantis Durham Co. Comment: ENRI
	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Wake Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment: semi-wooded residential neighborhood
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.8 mm female, came to UV light at night	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.8 mm female, came to UV light at night
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Lior Carlson Orange Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Scotland Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm male stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm male stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm male stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak
	Photo by: Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment:

Species Photo Gallery for Erythroneura tricincta Three-banded Leafhopper