Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Graphocephala fennahi (Young, 1977) - Rhododendron Leafhopper CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A large member of this genus, with males 7.3-8.6 mm long and females slightly larger at 8.2-9.0 mm (some individuals can be larger). Forewings are variable in coloration, being typically green with red to orange bands. Some individuals though can have the green replaced with pale blue; this blue form is uncommon to rare. Red wing bands are usually unequal in width, with the back band sometimes faint or incomplete, and there are typically only two bands; very uncommonly, there can be hints of third, outer stripe. The width of the red bands can vary and some individuals can have uncommonly have somewhat even bands that are a bold red color. In addition, there are prominent, clearly scalloped black markings around the wing tip; this is a key characteristic that can help differentiate among similar species, as the only other species that has scallopping this pronounced is the very differently patterned G. versuta. The top of the head is yellow, as are the legs and underside of the body (BG).

Nymphs are whitish to yellow in color but have the distinctive, pointed head shape of this genus.

distribution

A species native to the mountains of southern Virgina, the western Carolinas, and northern Georgia. It was apparently carried in the 1920s on ornamental rhododendrons to NY, PA, w. US, and Europe (UK); this species is liable to turn up anywhere throughout the U.S. and southern Canada (BG).

abundance

This species has been recorded primarily from the Mountains, where it is common, and several counties in the Piedmont. Probably more abundant, especially in the mountains, in the right habitat and where Rhododendron occurs, but likely to turn up anywhere in the mountains and Piedmont, perhaps not as likely in most of the Coastal Plain.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been recorded in the state in grassy, brushy habitat near forest edge, as well as in mixed hardwood forest itself; most likely present where rhododendron occurs.

plant associates

Rhododendrons and azaleas

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a black light. Eggs are laid in flower buds on host plant (Hamilton 1985).

comments

The blue form is rare in this species.

TAXONOMIC NOTE: Graphocephala can be a very difficult genus in which to differentiate some of the species from one another, it has been a bit of a taxonomic mess for a while. G. fennahi can be challenging to distinguish from green and red members of G. coccinea. Exact measurements of body length and determination of sex (or photos that allow a sex to be determined) can be very helpful in helping determine species, although even then it may not be possible to conclusively determine a species due to overlapping size ranges. Coloration and pattern can also be a useful field mark, but not always. G. fennahi tends to have 1 or 2 red bands that are of non-equal width, usually with the corial band reduced or absent, and on occasion the bands can be of similar length. Some individuals of coccinea can have 2 red bands of subequal length. Additionally, the heavily scalloped black markings at the tips of the wings are usually an indication of fennahi, but not always. While fennahi typically has this trait, members of coccinea can occasionally show this. Graphocephala can be very challenging.

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

Cicadellini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Graphocephala fennahi Rhododendron Leafhopper
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Ashe Co. Comment: brushy, vegetated habitat
	Photo by: Paul Scharf, Kyle Kittleberger, Brian Bockhahn Ashe Co. Comment:	Photo by: Randy Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: uv lights, will try to get a specimen.
	Photo by: Randy Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: uv lights, will try to get a specimen.	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Nymph on Host Plant
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Surry Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat near forest edge	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Surry Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat near forest edge
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Surry Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat near forest edge	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; male, 7.7 mm long
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; male, 7.7 mm long	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; male, 7.7 mm long
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male, 7.7 mm	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male, 7.7 mm
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male, 7.7 mm	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment: 8.2 mm, forest edge with many Rhododendron maximum nearby
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment: 8.2 mm, forest edge with many Rhododendron maximum nearby	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment: forest edge
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment: forest edge	Photo by: Rob Van Epps McDowell Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51953273	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52744537
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Mitchell Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Buncombe Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Henderson Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Surry Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Surry Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Watauga Co. Comment:

Species Photo Gallery for Graphocephala fennahi Rhododendron Leafhopper