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

Perkinsiella saccharicida - Sugarcane Planthopper


© Mark Shields- note coloration
Taxonomy
Family: DELPHACIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A large delphacid, light orange-brown overall in coloration. The wings are smoky hyaline in coloration, with a median brown band becoming stronger and wider as it extends towards the apices. The wing venation is dotted with black. The thorax is bicolored, resembling a broad pale band down the middle of the scutellum and pronotum contrasting with brown bands on the lateral margins; the pale coloration extends onto the vertex. The face is distinctly bicolored, with a brown intercarinal region and clypeus that contrasts with a pale frons. There is a large, flattened spur near the apex of the tibiae of the hind legs, characteristic for this species. Antennae are flatenned and a dark yellowish-brown color. Adults are 4.5-6.0 mm long. (Bartlett, 2013)

Nymphs are pale with mottled orange, brown and black marks across the body. Nymphs also display the large hind tibial spur that is characteristic of adults.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: A widespread species in Asia and Australia; adventive in Africa. It was introduced in Hawaii in 1900, and into Florida in 1982. It has since spread along the Gulf Coast to Texas and as far north as North Carolina; it has also spread throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. (UDEL)
Abundance: Only recorded from a single county in the Coastal Plain, a recent arrival in the state and likely carried north by the winds of Hurricane Dorian.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Coastal areas that are somewhat in the vicinity of sugarcane.
Plant Associates: Sugarcane
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: This species is a widespread and very important pest of sugarcane, as feeding damages the plant and leaves reddening and desiccation of the leaves. Sooty mold on honeydew excreted by the hoppers or ovipositional punctures can also damage plants. This species is a vector of Sugarcane Fiji disease virus Fijivirus (Fiji leaf gall), though this has not been documented yet in the Western hemisphere. (Bartlett, 2013)

There are multiple generations of this species every year, and adults can be found all year long. Flying adults are very mobile and can range far distances, becoming attracted to lights in large numbers. (Bartlett, 2013)

Status: Introduced
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Perkinsiella saccharicida Sugarcane Planthopper

Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: