Oak Treehopper Nymphs

Subject:  Unusual cicada??
Geographic location of the bug:  Vienna, Virginia
Date: 09/23/2017
Time: 04:39 PM EDT
Hello Bugman,
My horticulture friend sent me this photo of cicada like insects on a birch tree in September in northern VA, but the wings do not look cicada like and I have never seen “horns” on cicadas. They look positively creepy!
Can you help us identify?
How you want your letter signed:  Stumped gardener

Oak Treehopper Nymphs

Dear Stumped Gardener,
Is your friend certain these Treehopper nymphs were on a birch tree?  They are Oak Treehopper nymphs,
Platycotis vittata, based on this BugGuide image, and according to BugGuide, the habitat is:  “Forests and forest edges, parks, and anywhere Oak trees are found. Occasionally found on other trees, but these individuals were probably just resting on those non-Oak trees.”  Since nymphs cannot fly, they were likely feeding on the plant upon which they were found.  Treehoppers and Cicadas are both in the same superfamily, hence the resemblance.

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