Rhododenron leafhopper, Scarlet and Green Leafhopper

The Rhododendron Leafhopper {Graphocephala fennahi} and the Scarlet and Green Leafhopper {Graphocephala coccinea} are not the same....there is a difference betweeen them, as described in the text below.



The rhododendron leafhopper, G. fennahi (7.3-9.0 mm), is the only one that feeds on that particular plant, and is the only one found on the Pacific Coast. The stripes are unequal, with the ones on the back being fainter. In addition, males have a distinct spine on the terminal segment (you have to lift up the wings to see this).


The northeastern G. picta looks very much like G. fennahi but is found on other plants and is somewhat shorter (6.9-8.7 mm).


The remaining 3 species (the widespread G. coccinea and... read more G. teliformis, plus G. constricta from MS, AR and TX; 6.2-7.4 mm) all look much alike, but have somewhat different ranges.


G. coccinea varies much in color, from nearly all red with blue stripes (it is the only species that can have blue instead of green), to nearly all green with red stripes.


In the subspecies G. c. coccinea, confined to the Atlantic coast, males are 5.7-6.2 mm long, and females 6.7-7.3 mm. In the inland subspecies, G. c. quadrivittata, males are 6.6-7.6 mm and females are 7.2-8.4 mm.


G. teliformis, 7.2-9.1 mm long, usually (but not always!) has equally wide red and green stripes. Its eastern, western, and southern known range limits are somewhat constricted relative to those of G. coccinea. Areas where the latter is found, but not the former, include: the Atlantic coast; southern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi; Florida; northwestern Arkansas; eastern Kansas; northern and western Minnesota; and southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

[Information taken from Hamilton (1985) and comments by Andy Hamilton on various images. Print References : Hamilton, K. G. Andrew. 1985. The Graphocephala coccinea Complex in North America (Homoptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae). Entomologische Abhandlungen 49(6):105-111.

Feeds on the juices of plants

Injects saliva that blocks the plants sap flow which causes leaf drop and sometimes death to the plant.

Eggs are laid in plant tissue.

Host plants are Rhododendron and Azalea.

Most commonly found in Eastern USA.