Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Graminella sonora (Ball, 1900) - No Common Name CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

Lesser Lawn Leafhopper

description

A pale tan species with four bold black dots on the edge of the vertex; the two inner dots are noticeably larger than the two dots at the apex, characteristic of this species. Adults are small, around 3.0 mm long or smaller. The combination of the coloration and pattern, together with the small size, are key characteristics for distinguishing this species from others in the genus; the wing venation is also more complicated than in other members of the genus, with more small cells. The individual male genital plates are triangular in shape, with sharp apexes that are divergent from one another. The female pregenital sternite has a moderate, rounded excavation on the medial half of the posterior margin, with a slight convex tooth in the middle and convex lateral margins to the sternite; the excavation is bordered with brown.

For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser.

distribution

Found throughout much of the United States, into Central America and the Caribbean

abundance

Recorded from primarily the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, where it can be locally common; probably more abundant in the right habitat.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been found in a grassy, open area near forest edge.

plant associates

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light.

comments

This species is a known vector of sorghum stunt mosaic rhabdovirus (SSMV) and can therefore cause economic agricultural damage. (APS)

This species could be mistaken for the much larger G. fitchii: both have similar coloration and pale faces. However, fitchii has very bold pale wing venation that contrasts with the rest of the wings, and the pronotal lines are boldly defined; in sonora, the wing venation does not stronly contrast with the rest of the wings. Additionally, the black markings on the vertex of sonora are two different sizes, with the two central spots noticeably smaller than the outer ones. In fitchii, these spots are relatively the same size.

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

Deltocephalini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Graminella sonora No Common Name
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: male, 2.8 mm long	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: male, 2.8 mm long
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: male, 2.8 mm long	Photo by: John Fones Dare Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34808377	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163313	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61163304
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.1 mm, came to UV/CFL light at night	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.1 mm, came to UV/CFL light at night
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.1 mm, came to UV/CFL light at night	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard with woods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard with woods.	Photo by: Solomon Hendrix Wake Co. Comment: attracted to light
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm male came to LED porch light at night	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm male came to LED porch light at night
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm male came to LED porch light at night	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.9 mm male
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.9 mm male	Photo by: Larry Chen, Sarah Toner Beaufort Co. Comment:

Species Photo Gallery for Graminella sonora No Common Name