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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Hoppers (Auchenorrhyncha) » Cicadas, Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, and Treehoppers (Cicadomorpha) » Leafhoppers and Treehoppers (Membracoidea) » Typical Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) » Sharpshooters (Cicadellinae) » Proconiini » Oncometopia » subgenus Oncometopia (Oncometopia subgenus Oncometopia) » Broad-headed Sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona)
Photo#5374
Blue Sharpshooter - Oncometopia orbona
Copyright © 2004 Richard Leung

Blue Sharpshooter - Oncometopia orbona
Springfield, Virginia, USA
July 27, 2004
This insect looks a lot like this:

except that it has a large white spot on either wing. Is it the same species? Or something different?
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Contributed by Richard Leung on 29 July, 2004 - 8:04pm

Cicadellidae
Oncometopia orbona; the white wing patches are clumps of wax that the female uses to cover the eggs.
… Andy Hamilton, 10 September, 2004 - 11:26pm login or register to post comments

Tough genus
I believe there are several species that look like this, but the genus looks right (Oncometopia). Those white spots indicate a female ready to oviposit. Read more about their purpose here.
… Troy Bartlett, 29 July, 2004 - 8:18pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Troy!
That's fascinating info about the brochosomes!
… Richard Leung, 29 July, 2004 - 8:23pm login or register to post comments

 
Wow!
Yeah, thanks Troy. I was ready to call this a "field mark" in my field guide because we got an image of another species with those white spots. Really glad I got enlightened:-) Ha!
… Eric R. Eaton, 3 August, 2004 - 12:19pm login or register to post comments

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