Species Draeculacephala inscripta - Waterlettuce Leafhopper

Draeculacephala inscripta Van Duzee 1915

♂♂ ~6mm, ♀♀ ~8mm

An unmistakable species with heavy dark lines on face and side of head, dorsum green (tip of forewing may be light bluish), legs and sides of head & thorax light blue, and the scutellum often has a distinctive pattern of black dots. The wing venation is often an inconspicuous green (as in Helochara), which is unique to the genus. There are bold vermiculations on pronotum. Often a darker green than most other members of the genus. This species has a very short head compared to other Draecs. Blue forms have been recorded.

Marks on scutellum:

Southern United States east of Rocky Mts., introduced in Hawaii.

Near water in marshes, wetlands(1)

Nymphs and adults feed on Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and Floating Primrose-willow or Water-primrose (Ludwigia peploides)

Leaves of water lettuce heavily infested with nymphs turn a yellow or gold color, but it is not known whether this is symptomatic of a viral disease transmitted by the leafhopper, or due to leaf degradation cause by excessive sap loss

Over a one-month period, female deposits up to 75 eggs into soft spongy tissue of hostplant leaf; eggs hatch in 4-6 days, and nymphs pass through five instars while feeding on hostplant; egg-to-adult period about 28 days; adults probably live for several weeks(1)

Draeculacephala paludosa — this is a morphologically similar species, occurring in the Great Lakes region