Yellow-and-black Leafhopper - Evacanthus ustanucha

Evacanthus ustanucha

Congratulations on finding a highly localized insect! Yes, this is a mountaintop-inhabiting leafhopper. It was formerly known only from Mt. Mitchell and Chestnut Bald, both in NC. Where in Macon Co. is Craggy Mountain?

There are two related leafhoppers that are also known only from mountains in the SE USA: E. bellaustralis from the Great Smokies of NC and TN, and E. chlamidatus from Roan Mt. in NC. You can find pictures of these insects on page 477 of The Canadian Entomologist 115 (May 1983). Happy hunting!

… Andy Hamilton, 20 June, 2006 - 8:38am

gramma's people are from Roan Mountain area. She was born on the Tennessee side and grew up on the North Carolona side in Bakersville, Mitchell County.

She doesn't have any sense of the uniqueness of that mountain's ecology.

… Thomas Wilson of Armistead Gardens in Baltimore City, 21 June, 2007 - 9:08am

Thanks

Thanks for identifying this strange insect and giving me all this information. What a delightful surprise to get an answer to this tough ID question!

Craggy Gardens is on the summit of Craggy Mountain, 18 Blue Ridge Parkway mileposts north of Asheville (in Buncombe County). The parking area is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Craggy Mountain is about 5500 feet high.

… Dorothy E. Pugh, 20 June, 2006 - 9:48am