Insect
Tenderfoot Leafhopper
Draeculacephala mollipesAlso known as Tenderfoot Sharpshooter
Tenderfoot leafhoppers are slender, vivid green insects with sharply pointed heads that allow them to blend seamlessly against blades of grass. They use specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts to tap into vascular tissue, feeding on plant sap across damp meadows and pastures. When disturbed, their enlarged hind legs propel them into swift, evasive leaps that mimic the trajectory of flying seeds.
HerbivoreJumpingGrassland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrass sap, Sedge sap, Cereal crop fluids
Predators
- Orb-weaver spiders
- Damsel bugs
- Insectivorous songbirds
ThreatsBroad-spectrum insecticides and intensive turf mowing
HabitatsMeadows, marshes, pastures, and grassy roadsides
Life spanSeveral months
Classification
- OrderHemiptera
- FamilyCicadellidae
- GenusDraeculacephala
- SpeciesDraeculacephala mollipes
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Sweep Netting: Sweep a standard canvas insect net through tall meadow grasses to view individuals up close.
- Approach Slowly: Sudden shadows cause them to jump rapidly away, so move cautiously to observe them feeding.
Same Genus (c) Alex Stach, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator (c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family (c) Trevor Edmonson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Edmonson · cc-by
Same Family (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist · cc-by
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