leafhopper

Penthimia americana is an rare and unusual leafhopper. It occurs in North America east of the Great Plains. It is rare throughout its range, including in Minnesota. It is unusual because it resembles a spittlebug, looking nothing like other leafhoppers.

Adults are short, 3 ⁄16″ to ¼″ (5 to 6 mm) long. The body is smooth, shiny, and oval when viewed from above, convex when viewed from the side. The overall color varies from reddish-brown to black with numerous, small, white or pale spots.

The head is short and very broad, almost as wide as the exoskeletal plate covering the thorax (pronotum). The back of the head (vertex) is very broadly rounded.

The pronotum is widest at the base, narrower toward the head. The rear margin is broadly concave. The surface has distinct horizontal grooves. The plate between the wing bases (scutellum) is large and triangular.

The forewings (hemelytra) are thickened, leathery, very broad, and short, though long enough to completely cover the abdomen. They are widest in the middle and broadly rounded to a blunt point at the tip. There is an extension (selvage) at each wingtip which overlaps the adjacent wing. The selvage is broadly rounded. The hindwings are thin, membranous, a little shorter than the hemelytra, and concealed beneath the hemelytra.

The fourth segment (tibia) of the hind leg has a row of spines. The last part of the leg (tarsus), corresponding to a foot, has three segments.

Total length: 3 ⁄16″ to ¼″ (5 to 6 mm)

When disturbed the adult is likely to remain still, relying on its camouflaged appearance for protection.

Plant juices from the leaves of trees and shrubs, including chokecherry, hickory, and maple.

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

Alfredo Colon
6/12/2024

Location: Albany, NY

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota