Northern flatid planthopper
When disturbed it shuffles around to the far side of the stem it is feeding on, keeping the twig between itself and the threat.
| Where | Garden shrubs, crops and roadsides |
|---|---|
| Size | 5 to 10 mm body length |
| When | June to November |
This planthopper has a wedge-shaped body with broad, leaf-like wings that are white to pale green, often with a slightly mealy look. Several individuals commonly line up head to tail along a single stem.
Nymphs produce waxy filaments that make them look fuzzy, while adults hang beneath stems with their wings pointed downward as they feed. It occurs on garden and farm plants across much of eastern North America.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
White, Green
Active
Day
To people
Feeds only on plant sap and is harmless to handle or observe.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Covered in a dusty grey-white waxy bloom with dark spots near the base of the wings, rather than the plain white to green, unmarked wings of the Northern flatid planthopper.
Questions
Is the Northern flatid planthopper dangerous to people?
Feeds only on plant sap and is harmless to handle or observe.
When can you see the Northern flatid planthopper?
The Northern flatid planthopper can be seen from June to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by NC Moth Project, CC BY‑SA 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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True bugs›Flatid planthoppers›Flatormenis
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.