theultimateswordsman's Identifications

Red-banded Leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea)

Note: We encountered this pair of tiny leafhoppers that measure between 6.6mm and 8.4mm and whose vast range extends from Canada to Panama at the perimeter of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s (UTSMC) Bird Sanctuary on a visit to observe and photograph the resident nesting big birds. On the tinier side of the size spectrum, this particular leafhopper lacks no dazzle as it sports quite a suit of color that’s artfully designed besides. The Red-banded Leafhopper’s additional common names include Candy-striped Leafhopper, Scarlet-and-Green Leafhopper, and Red-and-Blue Leafhopper. The Red-banded Leafhopper is an authentic resident of North America and the Western Hemisphere.

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30 April 2016
UT Southwestern Medical Center Bird Sanctuary
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas

Hundreds of miles distant from the Texas Gulf Coast we come to find none other than a thriving long-existing rookery located in the hilly plains of North Texas. These images were obtained on our first visit to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s (UTSMC) Bird Sanctuary, which some also refer to as Rookery. For as long as local folks' memory can recall, several aquatic bird species have nested here and we were able to photograph a few. Interestingly, there were some songbirds also nesting at the site and the butterflies were flying. There were two signs at the Rookery and two signs only. The first was repeated as it was posted numerous times around the perimeter of the area where the birds actually nest and it read: “NO TRESPASSING Bird Nesting Area.” The second sign was one of a kind and it read: “NESTING BIRDS OF THE ROOKERY.” It presented images and text of the major species represented at the site. It turns out that there are at least eight bird species that nest here including Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Tricolored Heron and Anhinga. And the Rookery is located not far from downtown Dallas meaning that it is virtually surrounded by a thriving metropolitan area. Each year big birds can be seen flying in and out all day long in the Rookery's vicinity for the duration of the nesting season.

Sources:

Chris Jackson, “The Amazing UTSWMC Rookery,” DFW Urban Wildlife, July 2, 2008, renowned North Texas iNatter provides excellent assessment of the site and it includes not one but two maps as well, accessed 4.30.16, http://dfwurbanwildlife.com/2011/11/14/journal/july-2-2008-the-amazing-utswmc-rookery/

“Red-banded Leafhopper (aka Candy-Striped Leafhopper) (Graphocephala coccinea),” BugGuide, Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, photographs, range map, description, resources, accessed 4.30.16, http://bugguide.net/node/view/518