Explanation of Names
Poecilocapsus lineatus (Fabricius 1798)
Identification
Adult: forewing bright green or yellow with four black linear stripes, head is always orange, even on nymphs.
Nymph: first and second instars completely orange or red; later instars have reddish-orange abdomen and black wingpads
Range
e NA to Calif. (NS-FL to SK-CA) / to s. Mex. -
Map (1)(2)(GBIF)
Habitat
fields, gardens, around homes
Season
mostly: May-July (BG data)
Food
nymphs and adults feed preferentially on members of the mint family (wild mint, catnip, peppermint, spearmint, hyssop, oregano) but will attack a variety of wild plants (thistle, dandelion, burdock, tansy, loosestrife, sumac) as well as cultivated flowers (carnation, geranium, chrysanthemum, snapdragon, phlox) and crops (alfalfa, ginger, currant, raspberry, cucumber, lettuce, pea, potato, radish, squash)
Life Cycle
eggs overwinter inside stems of hostplant and hatch in spring; nymphs pass through five instars in April-May; adults appear in June, mated females insert eggs into stems of hostplant, and adults die by end of August
