Colladonus clitellarius

Colladonus clitellarius, the saddled leafhopper, is a species of leafhopper in the genus Colladonus.

Description

Adults of C. clitellarius are 5 to 6 mm long, with males often being slightly smaller than females. Their overall coloration is brown to black with a bright green "saddle" shaped mark on their back being a key diagnostic feature of the species, alongside brown and green or white stripes on the head. This pattern extends into the insects' eyes, resulting in a bi-colored appearance.
Colladonus clitellarius nymphs share similar coloration to adults, though paler and with mottled patterns.

Range and habitat

The saddled leadhopper occurs in eastern North America. It resides primarily in forested environments in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.

Ecology

Adults are found most commonly from May to November. Major host plants for the species include willows, honey locusts, and the mile-a-minute vine. It is also a known vector of Cherry X Disease in peaches.

Etymology

The specific epithet "clitellarius" comes from the Latin word meaning back-saddled. This, alongside its common name "saddled leafhopper", is in reference to the saddle-like green marking on the backs of adults in this species.