Stenidiocerus poecilus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1835)
Scientific name: Stenidiocerus poecilus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1835)
Common name:
French name:
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Cicadellidae
Wingspan : 5,5 à 6,5 mm.
Biotope: On Black Poplars (Populus nigra) and Italian Poplars (Populus nigra var. italica).
Geographic area: Europe, Central Asia, North Africa.
Observation period : April to August (to be confirmed as I have read that Stenidiocerus poecilus overwinters at the adult state).
Leafhoppers of the Idiocerinae subfamily are characterized by a short wide and rounded vertex. On an upper side view, the front edge of the pronotum does not extend frontwards beyond the eyes. The two wings are one over the other at their tip.
Stenidiocerus poecilus shows very contrasted fore wings with thickened dark veins ornated by numerous white sections.
The pronotum bears a broad pale median stripe which continues on the second half of the scutellum while being interrupted on the first half by a dark spot.
Idiocerus herrichii also shows a pale median stripe on the pronotum but slightly narrower. It does not extend on the scutellum.
Idiocerus herrichii has typical hairs on the front that are missing on Stenidiocerus poecilus. The outer edge of Idiocerus herrichii's wing is clearly dotted with white and black. This is not the case for Stenidiocerus poecilus.

Stenidiocerus poecilus - Yvelines, France - August 27th 2012
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Stenidiocerus poecilus
It's difficult to have an idea of the nature of the host plant with this observation done on a post of the house gate!
You need to walk at least 200 metres to find one Poplar.


Stenidiocerus poecilus - Yvelines, France - August 27th 2012
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Stenidiocerus poecilus
I think that there is no doubt on the species identification but I am interested by the white veins located at the middle of the inner edge of the wing. There are two of them close to the other on this specimen and also seen on some pictures found here and there. But usually this species is shown with only one. Is this a common variation, the indication of a subspecies, ... ?

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