Red-banded LeafhopperGraphocephala coccinea
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Rare
- Active during
- Midday
- Found in
- Lotsamoss Woods
- Length
- 0.3 in
- Wingspan
- 0.2 in
From the field notes
Diet
Instead of mandibles that chew their food, they have a needle-like structure called a rostrum that pierces plant stems and drinks the sugary sap inside.
Defense
Their bright neon stripes allow the insects to vanish among sun-dappled foliage by breaking up their outline against colorful plants. The stripes also act as a bold warning sign to predators that they are likely unpalatable.
Leafhopper Shuffle
Before resorting to a massive jump, they will scuttle sideways to hide completely out of sight on the opposite side of a leaf or stem. If cornered, their powerfully modified hind legs launch them into the air with startling speed.
Sugary Rain
Because plant sap is mostly water and sugar, these insects process large amounts of it to get enough nutrients. They forcefully eject droplets of sticky, sugary water known as honeydew to avoid drowning in their waste.
Field Marks
They are most easily identified by that spectacular "candy-striped" pattern — an aerodynamic tent of alternating teal and magenta stripes across their wings.