Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Cuerna costalis (Fabricius, 1803) - Lateral-lined Sharpshooter CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

Southeastern Grass Leafhopper

description

A large, dark, black and red species; the wings are reddish with black venation. There is a conspicuous white stripe running along the sides of the abdomen to the head, wrapping around the crown. Both the blackish head and thorax are sprinkled with orangish marks, particularly along the anterior margin of the pronotum; the scutellum is a mixture of orange and black. The final two segments of the abdomen are largely red, and the legs are a bright, bold red.

Nymphs are pretty distinctive, having repetitive black and yellowish-white stripes over their bodies and dark eyes. However, the nymphs do show the red-black legs (the red on the inner part of the leg) that are characteristic of the adults.

Click here for more images of the adults and nymphs.

distribution

Found primarily in the Southeastern U.S., but ranges as far north to Ontario and south into Mexico (Krishnankutty et al. 2015)

abundance

Locally common, with scattered records across the entire state.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Found in fields, meadows, and other habitats with tall grass such as open forest.

plant associates

This species has dozens of host plants, including Rudbeckia and Monarda. Click here for a list of host plants: Host Plants.

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light.

comments

There are normally two generations per year, with adults overwintering under matted grass in fields (BG).

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

Proconiini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Cuerna costalis Lateral-lined Sharpshooter
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: open forest habitat near pond	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Several along with nymphs in tall uncut grass. Caught while sweeping
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Several along with nymphs in tall uncut grass. Caught while sweeping	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Nymph, with adults in uncut grass. Caught while sweeping
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Nymph, with adults in uncut grass. Caught while sweeping	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: grassy, field type habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: grassy, field type habitat; a nymph	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: grassy, field type habitat; a nymph
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: NYMPH, Caught Sweeping	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught sweeping
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph
	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Steve Hall Brunswick Co. Comment: Perched on a dead twig; roadside right-of-way
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Moore Co. Comment: Pine with scrub underbrush.	Photo by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Scotland Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8.2 mm, caught during a sweep through a weedy field	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8.2 mm, caught during a sweep through a weedy field

Species Photo Gallery for Cuerna costalis Lateral-lined Sharpshooter