Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 2064632

Green Cone-headed Planthopper

Acanalonia conica

Also known as Conehead Planthopper

Green cone-headed planthoppers are master mimics whose broad, bright green, net-veined forewings blend seamlessly into deciduous foliage. Nymphs produce tufts of white waxy filaments from their abdominal tips to camouflage their bodies and deter predators before growing into leaping adults. While considered a benign native herbivore across eastern North America, introduced populations in southern Europe now feed across diverse agricultural and ornamental plantings.

CamouflagedHerbivoreIntroduced Range
Green Cone-headed Planthopper reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Grapevine sap
  • Goldenrod sap
  • Blackberry sap
Predators
  • Jumping spiders
  • Assassin bugs
  • Songbirds
ThreatsBroad-spectrum insecticides and habitat disturbance
HabitatsDeciduous forest edges, meadows, hedgerows, and vineyards
Life spanApproximately 1 year
Classification
  1. OrderHemiptera
  2. FamilyAcanaloniidae
  3. GenusAcanalonia
  4. SpeciesAcanalonia conica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless to humans; safe to observe closely on foliage.
Responsible observation
  • Spotting: Scan stems and undersides of broadleaf shrubs and tall weeds from midsummer through early autumn.
  • Approaching: Move very slowly without casting sudden shadows, as startling them triggers explosive jumps.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…