Cuerna costalis
(Fabricius, 1803)
Lateral-lined Sharpshooter
Cuerna costalis, known as the lateral-lined , is a leafhopper in the Cicadellidae. It is native to the eastern half of the United States. The species is distinguished by its black and red coloration with longitudinal stripes on the forewings and a prominent white stripe running from the along the side of the . It is the only species in the Cuerna with red on its legs.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cuerna costalis: /ˈkwer.nə kɔsˈtæ.lɪs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from other Cuerna by the combination of: red coloration on the legs (unique within ), white stripe running from along side of , red spot at abdominal tip, and longitudinal stripes on forewings. The red legs are particularly diagnostic as no other Cuerna species exhibits this trait.
Images
Appearance
Medium-sized leafhopper with black and red coloration. Forewings bear longitudinal stripes. A conspicuous white stripe runs from the along the lateral side of the . The abdominal tip has a red spot. Legs are red, a trait unique to this within the Cuerna.
Distribution
Eastern half of the United States. Records include Alabama, Arkansas, and adjacent regions.
Similar Taxa
- Other Cuerna speciesLack red leg coloration; C. costalis is the only in with red legs
- Chortophaga viridifasciataSimilar body plan but different (Acrididae vs. Cicadellidae), different color pattern, and different preferences
More Details
Taxonomic Note
Originally described as Cercopis costalis by Fabricius in 1803, later transferred to Cuerna.