Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Xyphon flaviceps (Riley, C.V., 1880) - Yellow-headed Leafhopper CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A medium-sized greenish species with a prominent orange head (even though flaviceps means yellow-headed) with two large black ocelli. The head and pronotum lack dark markings (outside of the ocelli), and the face is yellowish with white mottling on the edge of the crown. The pronotum and scutellum are greenish. The wings are mostly green with contrasting pale wing venation; the wing tips are densely reticulated, giving the appearance of a meshwork of cells. Eyes are greenish to blue in color, and the underside of the abdomen is mostly yellow. A medium-sized species, with adult males 4.5-5.0 mm long and females 5.0-6.3 mm. (Catanach 2013)

Nymphs are bluish-gray with some pale areas. There is a large black spot on each eye.

distribution

Found primarily in the Southeastern and Southern United States, from Virginia west to New Mexico and south into Mexico (Catanach 2013)

abundance

Recorded across the state, with a majority of records coming from the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. Probably more abundant in grassy habitats.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Recorded in grassy, field-type or prairie-grass habitat; also mixed forest edge.

plant associates

cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), alfalfa (Medicago sp.), beebalm (Monarda sp.), prickly Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), miscellaneous flowers/weeds, Digitaria sp., Fragaria sp. (Catanach 2013)

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light.

comments

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 Xyphon flaviceps Yellow-headed Leafhopper
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest edge/field or prairie grass habitat, near stream	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open forest habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open forest habitat
	Photo by: Amanda Auxier Pender Co. Comment: Attracted to white CFL porch light.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Weedy/grassy open area. Caught sweeping.
	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	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: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163314	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163314
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163299	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163299
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163299	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163297
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163297	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163297
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163297	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163297
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163315 - unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163300 - unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163300 - unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163300 - unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61212126	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61212126
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.3 mm, sweep through grassy area	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.3 mm, sweep through grassy area
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.3 mm, sweep through grassy area	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 5.7 mm, came to UV light at night

Species Photo Gallery for Xyphon flaviceps Yellow-headed Leafhopper