Bespeckled Leafhopper

Appearance

A slender, highly mottled leafhopper; the slenderness can help separate this species from most others in this genus. The wings, thorax, and head are densely reticulated, and this species is usually dark in color overall. Both the male and female have distinctive abdominal tips- the male's subgenital plates have concave lateral margins and finger-like, elongate tips. The female pregenital sternite is tridentate (3 sharp spines at the base of the ovipositor) with an M-shaped excavation. Males are 5.0-5.8 mm long, while females are 5.8-6.7 mm.

Naming

Paraphlepsius irroratus (Say, 1830)

Latin irroratus "bedewed, covered with granules, besprinkled"

Distribution

Much of eastern North America. Also in the Pacific Northwest.

Status

The most common member of this genus, and the one most frequently encountered.

Behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light.

Habitat

Mixed hardwood forest, forest edge, open woodlands, grassy areas, etc.

Food

Glycine max, Medicago, etc. Has also been found feeding on apple, clover, sugar beets, legumes, cotton, wheat, rose, and cherry trees.

Also: Brassica sp., Cannabis sativa, Medicago sp., Melilotus albus, Trifolium hybridum, Trifolium incarnatum, Trifolium pratense, Quercus macrocarpa, Avena sp., Saccharum sp., Triticum sp., Zea sp., Prunus sp., Rubus sp., Salix sp., Vitis sp.