The bold coloration on the Candy-Striped Leafhopper is not very common among insects. Though some may have patches of green, it is the red/blue combination that draw attention. This species is commonly found on blackberry bushes and the flowers and leaves of ornamental plants like roses and rhododendrons. They may cause damage to said plants by sucking the juices from them to the point of no recovery.
When threatened, leafhoppers will cock their hind legs and jump away from potential predators. Leafhoppers are quite adept at jumping away from danger. They can travel great distances in one leap considering their size. Viewing them can be difficult for that reason; just when you get close enough to admire them, they jump out of view.
The Candy-stripped Leafhopper can emit bubbles of liquid waste from its abdomen (see photos). This liquid retains some sweet qualities from the plant juice it originated from and that attracts different pesky insects to the plant like wasps and flies.
Category: True Bug
Common name: Candy-Striped Leafhopper
Scientific Name: Graphocephala coccinea
Other Names: Scarlet and Green Leafhopper, Red-banded Leafhopper
Adult Size (Length): 8mm to 10mm (0.31in to 0.39in) COMPARE
Identifying Colors: blue; red; green
General Description: jumps, hops, tiny, lines
North American Reach (Though Not Limited To*): Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming; Alberta; British Columbia; Manitoba; New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Ontario; Prince Edward Island; Quebec; Saskatchewan; Mexico
* Keep in mind that insect reach is not governed by lines on a map and therefore may appear in areas/regions/states beyond those listed above.