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

Draeculacephala mollipes - Tenderfoot Leafhopper



© Kyle Kittelberger- note yellowish face

© Kyle Kittelberger- note blue wing venation and
pronotal lines

© Kyle Kittelberger- male; note pale underside

© Kyle Kittelberger- female; note pale underside
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: Cicadellinae
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A green species with blue wing venation and sometimes blue pronotal lines; this blue pigmentation is typcially bold (especially on the pronotum) and quite noticeable, though the amount of blue on the wings can vary as can the number of pronotal lines withs ometimes only a central blue line present. This species has a yellow underside, with yellow face and venter, and there is black line edging on the side of the head. A smallish to medium-sized species, with males less than 6.6 mm long and females less than 8.0 mm. (Dietrich 1994)
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: Eastern North America
Abundance: A common to uncommon species in the state, likely fairly abundant. Found throughout North Carolina
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Mixed hardwood forest, grassy areas, fields, etc.
Plant Associates: Grasses
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment:

D. mollipes is one of several Draeculacephala that occur in North Carolina that can be quite challenging to distinguish from each other. It is very important to make sure that detailed, clear photos are taken for many of these challenging species, showing side profile and underside shots (to determine sex). Obtaining a measurement of the specimen can also be very crucial. Below are some features that can help distinguish the challenging Draeculacephalas from one another.

antica- pale underside, face can be a little dark; forewing veins whitish. Male (6.1 or 6.3-7.7 mm), Female (6.0, 7.3-8.6 mm); head edged with bold black line; head slightly downcurved; dark brown markings on the mesosterna just behind the front coxae- these are absent in constricta, which is otherwise very similar

bradleyi- females and male have a black face, venter is pale brownish (lighter in males, darker in females). Male (less than 6.6 mm), Female (less than 8.0 mm)

constricta- lacks blue pigment on wing veins and pronotum, yellow face and venter; black line edging on side of head not as bold as antica. Male (less than 6.6mm), Female (less than 8.0 mm)

mollipes- yellow face, yellow venter; black line edging not as bold as antica. Blue pigment on some veins and usually on pronotal lines; resembles a smaller version of robinsoni. Male (less than 6.6 mm), Female (less than 8.0 mm)

portola- resembles robinsoni, but has inflated face profile; larger than most robinsoni, male (~8.1 mm), female (9.9-10.6 mm) but lacks the blue pigmentation on veins and pronotum that robinsoni has; strictly coastal, rare

robinsoni- blue pigmentation on the pronotum and forewing venation; male abdomen usually mostly dark brown ventrally; male with crown shorter than or subequal in length to pronotum, female crown noticeably longer; abdominal sterna color extremely variable, typically entirely brown with various amounts of yellow; ranges from yellowish or yellowish-brown to blackish. Males much darker ventrally than females, sometimes blackish underneath. Males (6.5-8.2 mm) Females (8.0-10.5 mm)

Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Draeculacephala mollipes Tenderfoot Leafhopper

Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 6.4 mm, caught during a sweep through weedy marsh on the shore of Lake Wylie
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 6.4 mm, caught during a sweep through weedy marsh on the shore of Lake Wylie
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 6.4 mm, caught during a sweep through weedy marsh on the shore of Lake Wylie
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: male, 5.4 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: male, 5.4 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: yellowish face
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Greenway - weedy edge of woods.
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimen; male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimen; male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimen; male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female, NCSU specimen
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female, NCSU specimen
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female, NCSU specimen
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; tentative
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; tentative
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; tentative
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male, 5.9 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male, 5.9 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male, 5.9 mm