# Red-banded leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea) > A small, brightly colored sap-feeding leafhopper common on shrubs and trees in eastern North America; not harmful to people but can cause minor plant damage. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/red-banded-leafhopper/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Non-toxic.** Does not bite or sting people. It is not venomous or dangerous. Handle gently if necessary; some people might experience minor skin irritation from crushing many insects, but this species is not known to cause allergic reactions. **Pets:** Not toxic to pets. Pets could eat individual leafhoppers without harm, though feeding on large numbers of any insect is not recommended. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Graphocephala coccinea - Also called: Scarlet-and-green leafhopper, Candy-striped leafhopper - Order: Hemiptera (True bugs) - Family: Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers) - Size: 6-8 mm body length - Colours: Red, Green, Yellow, Black - Habitat: Found on leaves and stems of shrubs, trees, garden plants, and roadside vegetation; prefers sunlit foliage. - Range: Native to eastern and central North America; records across the United States and southern Canada. - Active: Active in spring and summer into early autumn; most visible during warm daylight hours. - Lifespan: Adults live for several weeks to a few months through the summer; exact lifespan varies with climate and predation. - Effect on plants: Minor sap feeder - Pest: no ## Overview Graphocephala coccinea is a strikingly colored leafhopper found across eastern and central North America. Adults feed by piercing plant tissue and sucking sap from a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants. They are active in warm months and are often seen on leaves and stems where they hop or fly short distances when disturbed. They are not dangerous to people or pets, though large numbers can cause localized leaf yellowing or stippling on host plants. ## How to identify it Adults are small, wedge-shaped insects about 6-8 mm long with bold alternating red and blue-green stripes running along the forewings and onto the pronotum. The head, legs and underside are yellow, and the head has fine black lines. Nymphs are wingless and more uniformly greenish or yellowish, becoming progressively more colorful as they develop. - Notice the bold red and blue-green stripes along the wings, with a yellow head and legs. - Small wedge-shaped body about 6-8 mm long with distinctive color pattern visible from above. - When disturbed they hop or fly a short distance rather than crawl. ## Lookalikes - **Rhododendron leafhopper** (Graphocephala fennahi): Very similar red-and-green striped pattern; mostly found on rhododendrons and introduced to Europe. Separation from G. coccinea relies on fine details of colour pattern and male genitalia. - **Graphocephala versuta** (Graphocephala versuta): Closely related and similarly colored; identification often requires comparison of exact color pattern and sometimes examination of genitalia for definitive separation. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Females lay eggs inserted into plant tissue such as stems or leaf veins; eggs overwinter in colder areas or develop through the season depending on climate. - **Nymph (immature):** Nymphs hatch wingless and resemble small, pale leafhoppers. They go through several molts, feeding on plant sap and growing larger each instar. - **Adult:** Adults develop wings and the characteristic red and green coloration; they are mobile and can fly or hop to escape disturbance. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Plant sap (mainly xylem) from the same host plants used by adults. - Adults eat: Sap from leaves and stems of a wide variety of shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants. - Predators of the young: Predatory insects (lacewings, spiders, assassin bugs), small birds. - Predators of adults: Birds, spiders, predatory insects, and parasitic wasps. ## Effect on plants and gardens Feeds on xylem sap of a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants. Individual insects usually cause only superficial stippling or discoloration; heavy infestations can stress young or weak plants. This species is not generally a major agricultural pest, although its egg-laying in rhododendron buds is associated with spreading the fungus that causes rhododendron bud blast. ## Where and when to find it Look on the upper and lower surfaces of leaves, stems and branches of shrubs, trees and garden plants. Nymphs are found more on tender new growth; adults on leaves in sunlit areas. - Best time: Late spring through early autumn during warm daylight hours. - Tips: Use a hand lens or close-focus camera to capture the red banding; approach slowly as adults hop quickly when disturbed. Sweeping a net through foliage is an effective way to sample leafhoppers. ## Fun facts - The bright red and green colors make G. coccinea one of the most visually striking leafhoppers in North America. - Leafhoppers communicate in part through substrate-borne vibrations; many species use these signals during courtship. - Despite their showy appearance, these insects are small and easily overlooked until you look closely at foliage. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do red-banded leafhoppers bite? No. They feed on plant sap and do not bite or sting people. ### Are red-banded leafhoppers harmful to my plants? Individual leafhoppers cause only minor stippling or discoloration. Heavy infestations can stress young or weakened plants, but G. coccinea is not usually a major pest. ### Why are these leafhoppers on my houseplants? They are attracted to foliage where they can feed on sap. Outdoor plants and houseplants placed outdoors or near windows can sometimes host leafhoppers. ### How can I get rid of leafhoppers? For small numbers, hand-removal or a strong spray of water can dislodge them. In gardens, encourage predators, remove nearby weedy hosts, and use insecticidal soap or pyrethroid-based products only if necessary and according to label instructions. ### Where does the red-banded leafhopper live? It lives on shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants across eastern and central North America, preferring sunlit foliage during warm months. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/56925), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphocephala_coccinea). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.