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

Draeculacephala inscripta - Waterlettuce Leafhopper


© Ken Childs- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- note scutellum pattern
© Kyle Kittelberger- note black markings on head
and pronotum
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: Cicadellinae
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A mostly plain green sharpshooter with a boldly marked head. The heavy black lines on the head, face, and top part of the pronotum help separate this species from other members of this genus. The scutellum also has a distinct pattern: two small black dots near the center and a small black indentation below the dots, curved slightly downwards. The marks on the scutellum can best be thought of as resembling a sad face (see here). The presence sometimes of small bold black marks above the block dots at the base of the pronotum further give this sad face 'eyebrows'. The tip of the forewing may be light bluish rather than green like the rest of the body, and the legs are also light blue in color (BG).
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Out of State Record(s)
Distribution: Primarily southeastern United States, west to Texas and north to the Midwest; introduced in Hawaii (BG)
Abundance: Uncommon; recorded primarily from several counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, recorded from one county in the mountains. Probably more abundant near marshes and other wetland areas.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Near water in marshes and wetlands and other similar habitats, though sometimes it can be found away from water. (BG)
Plant Associates: Nymphs and adults feed on Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and Floating Primrose-willow/Water-primrose (Ludwigia peploides), though has also been recorded on Pink Waterlillies (Nymphaea sp.) (BG)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Leaves of water lettuce heavily infested with D. inscripta nymphs turn a yellow or gold color, though it is not known whether this color change is due to a viral disease transmitted by the species, or a result of leaf degradation caused by excessive sap loss from intense feeding. Adults likely only live for several weeks, and female can lay up to 75 eggs into the soft tissues of the hostplants (BG).
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for General Herbaceous Ponds

Species Photo Gallery for Draeculacephala inscripta Waterlettuce Leafhopper

Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: near mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
Photo by: Tony DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Childs
Out Of State Co.
Comment: