About Graphocephala fennahi Young, 1977
Graphocephala fennahi Young, 1977 is a species of leafhopper related to cicadas, spittlebugs, and treehoppers. Overall body length ranges from 8 to 10 millimeters (about 0.39 inches); males measure 7.4 to 8.8 millimeters (about 0.35 inches) long, while females measure 8.2 to 9 millimeters (about 0.35 inches) long. Adults have green wings with purple tips, and each wing bears two orange stripes. Their heads, undersides, and legs are yellow, with a purple stripe running across the top of the head that extends over the eyes. This species undergoes incomplete metamorphosis, and is diurnal, meaning it is active during the day. Graphocephala fennahi moves by jumping, and adult individuals can also fly short distances. They are easily startled and will quickly jump away when disturbed. Cast exoskeletons (shed skins) of this leafhopper can be found on the undersides of leaves. It feeds by sucking sap from rhododendron plants using a proboscis, a mouthpart structure also found in butterflies. This leafhopper is native to the mountains of southern Virginia, western Carolinas, and northern Georgia. As of August 2024, it has recently been observed in Northern Illinois, in suburban Chicago. It is thought that this species can be found across most of the United States and southern Canada. It is believed to have been transported to Europe on rhododendron plants, and websites currently monitor this species in Europe, collecting data on recording dates, population counts, and observation locations.
