Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Gyponana striata - No Common Name

No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: Iassinae
Taxonomic Author: (Burmeister)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: This species is typically a darker green than other Gyponana species. The wings are slender, almost 4 times as long as they are wide (BG). The wings have fairly dense reticulations, with the longitudinal veins somewhat present; there are also reticulations on the clavi (inner region of the wings). Adults are on the smaller end of the spectrum for Gyponana species, with males 8.0-9.0 mm long and females 8.5-9.5 mm (females are only about 0.5 mm longer than males). (Hamilton 1982)

See here for images of adults of this species: 1, 2.

Nymphs are greenish or brownish in color, but note the bold, distinctive white stripe down the body; this white stripe allows teh nymph to mimic the underside of a hemlock needle.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Throughout eastern North America, where hemlock is found.
Abundance: Scattered records from the mountains, likely common throughout this range where hemlock is present. Reported from Stokes county in the western Piedmont, where higher elevation sites have hemlock; there are several other higher elevation sites in the Piedmont that have hemlock, and this species could also be found there.

There are collection records from sites in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain where hemlock is not found, and it is therefore likely that these records are misidentified or mislabeled. These records have not been entered on this site.

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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Forests with hemlock
Plant Associates: One of two Gyponana species that feed on conifers, and the only leafhopper species known to feed on hemlock (Tsuga spp.); certainly eastern hemlock, perhaps Carolina hemlock (BG).
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Gyponana can be a challenging genus to identify, with many species looking similar to one another. The only way to confidently tell this species (and other species) apart is to have an exact measurement and to know the sex of the individual. It is important to take clear photos showing the wing venation, and get measurements and underside photos for size and sex. This particular species can best be distinguished from others by its association with hemlock.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for Hemlock Forests