Fagocyba cruenta

Fagocyba cruenta

Description

A small, narrow leaf hopper in the sub-family Typhlocybinae, usually associated with Beech.  Very variable in coloration including a very distinctive brick-red; also bright yellow, pale yellow or whitish.  Occasionally the apex of the forewing is greyish or smoky, and there may be darker streaks on the forewings.   The host plant assists ID, and dissection of male parameres or female ovipositor should confirm it.

Similar Species

The yellow or whitish colour forms are very similar to other Typhlocybinae leafhoppers on trees

Identification difficulty

yellow etc - males brick red

Recording advice

Good photos of specimen; dissection of yellow/whitish colour forms.  You must note the host species of tree

Habitat

Usually on Beech trees: plantations, gardens, parkland, churchyards and cemeteries

UK Status
VC55 Status

Occasional; few records, but almost certainly under-recorded. Yellow and pale forms, rarely brick-red, present on many Beech trees (including Copper Beech) sampled in early September 2025, sometimes in large numbers. 

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records