Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
Scientific Name: Search Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
Paraulacizes irrorata (Fabricius, 1794) - Speckled Sharpshooter     CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- teneral adult side view
© Paul Scharf- nymph; note hairy face and body
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
synonym
description Unmistakeable, this is the only speckled sharpshooter in the state. Adults are fairly large, 12mm in length, and usually have a mostly dark blue to black body with many yellowish to white spots/speckles. On each side of the body is a yellow "band" which widens into a white band around the sides of the head. Lastly, the front of the face has a slight pinkish tint on the white. Some adults, tenerals, can have a different coloration pattern; they are much lighter with brownish wings and a greenish head, and the eyes have a red line on the side. Other adults can have extremely vibrant and striking coloration.

Nymphs are small and green with a very hairy body (distinct for this species), especially the face, and short hind legs. BG

distribution A widespread species found from southeastern Ontario, throughout the eastern United States, to Texas and into Mexico. BG
abundance This species has been recorded across the state where it is uncommon to locally common.
seasonal_occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
habitat This species occurs in a variety of habitats, including grassy/brushy areas, forest edge, and mixed hardwood forest habitat.
plant associates Asteraceae: Cirsium altissimum (tall thistle), Cirsium sp., Conyza canadensis (horseweed), Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce), Silphium integrifolium (wholeleaf rosinweed); Poaceae: Elymus virginicus (Virginia wild rye), Sorghum sp. (cultivated sorghum) (BG). Also found on Rhus copallina, Rhus glabra, Solidago, Robinia pseudoacacia, Phytolacca, Pinus, and Rubus (DL).
behavior This species overwinters as adults in leaf-litter surrounding shrubs and trees. It moves from open, grassy areas to the forest in the fall and then back during the spring to lay eggs; in the fall large migrations of this species to the forest can occur. (1)

This species can be attracted at night with lights, but it is more frequently encountered during the day on herbaceous vegetation.

comments Eggs from this species can be parasitized by a mymarid wasp, Gonatocerus fasciatus. 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 Paraulacizes irrorata Speckled Sharpshooter

Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught while sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: tall grassy habitat; a teneral individual
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: tall grassy habitat; a teneral individual		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: tall grassy habitat; a teneral individual
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, 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: Caught Sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH, Caught Sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; late stage nymph
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; late stage nymph		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; nymph
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; nymph		Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW - Boardwalk. On Great Mullein		Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Rowan Co.
Comment: Nymph. Caught sweeping
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Greenway - weedy edge of woods.		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv light
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light
Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51373334
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field near woods. 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61442954
Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: semi-wooded residential neighborhood		Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: semi-wooded residential neighborhood
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119270449		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119270449
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119270449		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120084464
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Simpson Eason
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light
Photo by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light 		Photo by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG
Photo by: Hunter Phillips, Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Hunter Phillips, Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: