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Species Draeculacephala antica

Draeculacephala - Draeculacephala antica Hopper ID Request - Draeculacephala antica Sharpshooter - Draeculacephala antica green leafhopper - Draeculacephala antica Green sharpshooter - Draeculacephala antica Sharpshooter - Draeculacephala antica Draeculacephala sp.? - Draeculacephala antica Draeculacephala antica? - Draeculacephala antica - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Auchenorrhyncha (True Hoppers)
Infraorder Cicadomorpha (Cicadas, Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, and Treehoppers)
Superfamily Membracoidea (Leafhoppers and Treehoppers)
Family Cicadellidae (Typical Leafhoppers)
Subfamily Cicadellinae (Sharpshooters)
Tribe Cicadellini
Genus Draeculacephala
Species antica (Draeculacephala antica)
Explanation of Names
Draeculacephala antica (Walker, 1851)
Size
♂♂ 6.3-7.7mm, ♀♀ 7.3-8.6mm. Rarely, both sexes can be as small as 6mm under colder conditions.
Identification
A generally unmarked species with pale (mostly white) wing venation. Males usually have a dark tan face with visibly darker muscle scars (edged with black line from apex of head to behind eye in both sexes). Importantly, the tip of the head often has a distinct downcurve to it, differentiating this species from the similar D. constricta (this downcurve is not always clear). It is necessary to have detailed photos of the side of the hopper for identification, and underside views can be immensely helpful for individuals in southern states. The species has dark mesosternal maculae in males (not found in similar species) and usually pale yellow abdominal underside, though the abdomen can occasionally be somewhat smoky in appearance. Specimens can turn from green to tan in the southern U.S. with the browning of grasses in late summer. Blue forms have also been recorded. As with most Draeculacephala, this species can be very difficult to identify, so detailed shots and a size (for excluding similar species) are very important.
Range
Widely distributed in the East from southern temperate Canada to Mexico near the Texas border, as far west as the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat
Very common in grasslands, lawns, etc. — a very resilient species
Food
Grasses
Remarks
This is one of the most common Draeculacephala in the East, along with D. robinsoni.

example of downcurved head and [uncommon to rare] blue form:


uncommon to rare exhibition of vertex macula:
See Also
Draeculacephala constricta — a species that's morphologically identical dorsally. It has a somewhat smaller range and is much less common. The head does not downcurve and it is a smaller species.


Draeculacephala navicula — a similar species found in the southwest and Mexico. This species overlaps in size with antica, but has a less decurved tip of the head. Males have a much paler underside than antica.


Draeculacephala savannahae — a closely related and rare species that can resemble the pale form of antica


Draeculacephala bradleyi — a somewhat similar species with pale wing venation but slightly different form. The face of this species is much darker than antica.
Internet References