Draeculacephala antica

Appearance

A mostly green species with hints of yellow, especially on the face. The underside is typically pale, varying from light to dark brown, while the face can be somewhat dark. The forewing veins are whitish and there are dark brown markings on the mesosterna just behind the front coxae (when viewed from underneath). The wings also appear short in relation to the head length compared to that in other species. The head is edged with a bold black line on the sides, and the head is slightly downcurved when viewed from the side. A medium sized species, males are 6.3- 7.7 mm long (ranging as small as 6.1), while females are 7.3-8.6 mm (on occasion ranging as small as 6.0 mm).

Naming

Draeculacephala antica Walker 1851

Distribution

Across Canada and the continental US.

Behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light.

Habitat

Found in brushy, grassy, field-type habitats, as well as open forest. Also a common inhabitant of lawns and typically more commonly found on planted, non-native grasses than native ones.

Predators

Eaten by the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) and the red bat (Lasiurus borealis).

Cultural

May spread scorch disease caused by fastidious xylem inhabiting bacteria to ornamental shade trees.