Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Paraulacizes irrorata - Speckled Sharpshooter


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- teneral adult side view
© Paul Scharf- nymph; note hairy face and body
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: CicadellinaeTribe: Proconiini
Taxonomic Author: (Fabricius, 1794)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
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 in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
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
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: 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.

Comment: Eggs from this species can be parasitized by a mymarid wasp, Gonatocerus fasciatus. BG
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Paraulacizes irrorata Speckled Sharpshooter

Photo by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG		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: Ted
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Simpson Eason
Brunswick 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: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120084464		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: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: semi-wooded residential neighborhood		Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: semi-wooded residential neighborhood
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61442954		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field near woods.
Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51373334		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light		Photo by: Randy 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 L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv light		Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Greenway - weedy edge of woods.
Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Rowan Co.
Comment: Nymph. Caught sweeping		Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW - Boardwalk. On Great Mullein
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW		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: 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: 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: 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: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, caught 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: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught while sweeping