Identification
forewings green with narrow red bands; red band on corium (outer section of wing bordering the costa) frequently greatly reduced or absent; red bands sometimes of similar width; top of head yellow; abdomen red above, pale yellow below; hindwings dark gray or blackish
male pygofers (part of male genitalia) armed with curving spines flanking the anal tube [a diagnostic feature but usually not visible in photos of live individuals in the field]
Range
native to mountains of southern Virginia, western Carolinas, and northern Georgia, but apparently carried in the 1920s on ornamental rhododendrons to New York, Pennsylvania, and Great Britain; also occurs on rhododendrons in towns of western North America (e.g. Victoria, British Columbia; Wilburton, Oklahoma)
The Rhododendron Leafhopper was introduced to the west on ornamental rhododendrons; there are no native relatives there.
… Andy Hamilton, 25 September, 2008
due to the possibility of being transported along with ornamental rhododendrons to other areas, this species is liable to turn up anywhere throughout United States and southern Canada
Habitat
the winged adults may be found either on the host plants or resting on the leaves and flowers of virtually any plant, whereas the flightless nymphs are likely to be found only on the host plants (rhododendrons and azaleas)
Food
adults and immatures feed exclusively on rhododendrons and azaleas (Rhododendron spp).
Print References
Hamilton, K.G. Andrew. The Graphocephala coccinea Complex in North America (Homoptera, Auchenorryncha, Cicadellidae). Entomologische Abhandlungen. Band 49: Nr. 6. Dresden, Germany. 10 December 1985.
Internet References
preserved adult images showing several views (Malcolm Storey, BioImages, UK)
