Hoppers of North Carolina:
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Erasmoneura vulnerata (Fitch, 1851) - Wounded Leafhopper     CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Kyle Kittelberger
© Rob Van Epps
© Kyle Kittelberger- red
individual
© Scott Bolick- nymph
synonym
description A dark leafhopper with a reddish-brown color pattern, sometimes with a brighter red or green hue. The extensive brown patches on the wings and head are characteristic of this species; the brown color sort of resembles the color of dried-blood (hence 'vulnerata') (BG). Some individuals however have very vibrant red wings and sometimes a red head and thorax. There are small pale spots on the side of an otherwise dark head with a pale midline; these pale spots resemble white stripes next to the eyes. The pronotum and mesonotum are also mostly dark, and the anteclypeus is brown or black. There is a white patch on the costal margin of the wings, and the wing tips are a dark brown. The underside of the thorax (the mesosternum to be exact) is dark, the rest is pale. Adults are 2.7-3.2 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007)

For more images of this species showing the array of variation, see: BG.

Nymphs are reddish-brown with yellowish markings dorsally, divided by a yellowish stripe. The underside of the abdomen is a bold red color; the legs are yellow.

distribution Central and eastern United States, southeastern Canada, and northern Mexico; also introduced in parts of Europe (3I)
abundance Recorded across the state, with a majority of records from the Piedmont where it is common; likely abundant across the state in the right habitat.
seasonal_occurrence
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habitat Recorded from mixed hardwood forest, forest edge, and grassy areas.
plant associates Vitis riparia, Vitis sp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Ilex decidua, Cercis canadensis, Aesculus sp., Ulmus alata, among others (3I); has also been found on Black Gum.
behavior Can be attracted at night with a light.
comments The nominate form of E. fulmina could be confused with E. vulnerata. E. vulnerata has a similar pattern to that of fulmina but is typically not as uniformly dark. It has pale lines on the head, rather than small pale spots, and there are slight differences in the wing pattern.

The species can create leaf damage from feeding, causing it to be a pest species (particularly in areas where introduced). Damage appears as speckled whitish lesions (Rizzoli et al., 2020).

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 Erasmoneura vulnerata Wounded Leafhopper

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		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 habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
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 habitat. One red individual		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light
Photo by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to ultraviolet light.
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv lights		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv lights
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: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386723		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386723
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386723		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: red form
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.6 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.6 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.6 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night		Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: Attracted to 15W UV lamp		Photo by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
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: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods. 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors		Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Wake Co.
Comment: attracted to UV light
Photo by: Nora Murdock
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Nora Murdock
Henderson Co.
Comment: