description |
A very distinctive looking leafhopper, distinguished from other species by its very narrow head, with the eyes separated only by their own width (BG). This species is highly variable in color, with several different forms. The "summer", iridescent form has yellowish-green wings and thorax with noticeable bluish-black patches and lines. The head and thorax have three transverse black bands, and the face is black. However, some "summer" individuals can show faint or non-existent black markings. Other individuals can have a "stressed" appearance, showing the colorful body of the "summer" form but pale, almost transparent wings of the spring brood. A southern form, only occurring in the southern states, resembles the "summer" form except the wings are a solid bluish-black color. The "winter" form is brownish overall with some small black markings on the thorax and head. Depending on the temperature and time of year, some individuals can show traits of both "summer" and "winter" forms. Adult females can be distinguished from males, as they have an abdomen that extends far past the wing tips.
Nymphs are variable in coloration, ranging from reddish-brown to purplish to vibrant blue, with yellow eyes and the characteristic pointed, narrow head. |
Species Photo Gallery for Stirellus bicolor No Common Name |
| Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: open forest habitat near pond | | Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Common sweeping both uncut & cut grass |
| Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Common sweeping uncut & cut grass | | Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Common sweeping uncut & cut grass |
| Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: grassy, field type habitat near mixed hardwood forest | | Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy and field-type habitat; this color form only occurs in the southern states |
| Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy and field-type habitat; this color form only occurs in the southern states | | Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Brown Morph, Caught sweeping in short early growth grass |
| Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Brown Morph, Caught sweeping in short early growth grass | | Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Winter Form, Caught sweeping in short early growth grass |
| Photo by: Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn Burke Co. Comment: Caught sweeping Winter Form | | Photo by: Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn Burke Co. Comment: Caught sweeping Winter Form |
| Photo by: Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn Burke Co. Comment: Caught sweeping Winter Form | | Photo by: Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: Caught sweeping |
| Photo by: Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: Caught sweeping | | Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: NYMPH, Caught sweeping |
| Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught sweeping | | Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: NYNPH Caught sweeping |
| Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: NYMPH, Caught sweeping | | Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: mostly brushy vegetation consisting of willows, etc., on shore of lake; some grass as well; some brown forms |
| Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: mostly brushy vegetation consisting of willows, etc., on shore of lake; some grass as well; some brown forms | | Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: female |
| Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: female | | Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: female |
| Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Weedy/grassy open area. Caught sweeping. | | Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm, caught during vegetation sweep around wet retention area |
| Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3 mm, caught during vegetation sweep around wet retention area | | Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3mm |
| Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3mm | | Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI |
| Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI | | Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Dark "southern" form. Caught sweeping. Grassy, weedy area near hardwoods. |
| Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29673662 - unid_leafhopper |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31319220 | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34041636 |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34041636 | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34041636 |
| Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: sweep of low vegetation | | Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: sweep of low vegetation |
| Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: sweep of low vegetation | | Photo by: Ken Kneidel Union Co. Comment: sweep of low vegetation at woodland edge |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39546477 | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39546477 |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39546477 | | Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field near woods. |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446153 | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446153 |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446145 | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446145 |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446143 | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446143 |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55556908 | | Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61972669 |
| Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61972669 | | Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper |
| Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field. | | Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping. Grassy field. |
| Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in grassy field. | | Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in grassy field. |
|