Sharpshooter Nymph - Draeculacephala sp. [2]
Family Cicadellidae - Leafhoppers / Subfamily: Cicadellinae
Live adult sharpshooters photographed at Warrenville, Illinois, USA.
 [Hemiptera]   [Hemiptera Index]

 

Sharpshooter Nymph - Draeculacephala sp.
Sharpshooter nymph with Phoretic mite attached to hind leg

"Sharpshooter" is one common name for the leafhopper subfamily Cicadellinae, which includes Paraulacizes, Oncometopia, Cuerna, Draeculacephala, Graphocephala and many other genera. They get this name from their habit of feeding on the watery sap of xylem tissue, which conducts moisture from the roots up to the leaves. Excess water droplets are forced out the tip of the abdomen (Fig 1.) with an audible popping noise, hence the common name. [1]

Silver Leafhopper, Athysanus argentarius
Prototypical sharpshooter with exploding butt bubble: Silver Leafhopper, Athysanus argentarius
 
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References
  1. Bugguide.net, Subfamily Cicadellinae
  2. BugGuide.net, Sharpshooter Nymph - Draeculacephala sp.