Oncopsis tristis

Description

Length 3.7 - 4.6; smaller than other two species on Birch; females larger than males.  Sexually dimorphic and variable in colouration and intensity of markings. There is usually a band across the face between the eyes, darker in males.  Males have grey/brown pronotum, chestnut brown scutellum often with 2 black basal triangles; smoky forewings with black-brown veins, a more or less rounded brown spot on the cross-vein (m-cu) of the forewing, and darkened usually apical cells.  Females have chestnut brown vertex, pronotum and scutellum, and brown wings often with hyaline patches; they have a short ovipositor.

Similar Species

other Oncopsis

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Detailed examination of the specimen is needed.  Photograph specimen in side view, top down and face; note length and whether male/female.  You must note the host plant from which you collected the specimen.

Habitat

Birch

When to see it

Adult: June to September.

UK Status

Common. (ref.:  UK Auchenorrhyncha checklist 2021, on British Bugs website)

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded; likely to be under-recorded due to ID difficulty.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Bugs
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Cicadellidae
Records on NatureSpot:
2
First record:
12/07/2008 (Gould, David)
Last record:
23/06/2024 (Timms, Sue)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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