# Blue-green Sharpshooter (*Graphocephala atropunctata*) The Blue-green Sharpshooter is a small, colorful insect that loves to hop around plants. It has bright blue and green colors that make it easy to spot in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Blue-green Sharpshooter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Another_Blue-green_Sharpshooter_-_Flickr_-_treegrow.jpg&width=800) Photo: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Another_Blue-green_Sharpshooter_-_Flickr_-_treegrow.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue-green Sharpshooter has a bright, iridescent blue-green body with a distinctive rounded head marked by small black spots. Its clear wings are held tent-like over its back, often showing subtle dark veins, making it stand out against green leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Cicadellidae - **Genus:** Graphocephala ## Interesting facts - Imagine drinking through a straw your whole life – that's a sharpshooter! - These insects produce sweet honeydew, which ants sometimes like to eat. - They drink so much plant sap, they filter out extra water as tiny droplets! - They use their strong legs to jump over 100 times their body length! ## Special abilities - **Super Jumper:** Blue-green Sharpshooter can leap incredible distances using powerful hind legs that helps them escape predators in a flash. - **Sap Sucker:** Blue-green Sharpshooter has a special straw-like mouthpart that helps them drink watery xylem sap from plants for food and hydration. - **Plant Communicator:** Blue-green Sharpshooter can send tiny vibrations through plant stems that helps them find mates or warn others of danger. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 7-12 mm - **Size:** 5-8 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This insect enjoys drinking the watery sap from inside plant stems, like a tiny juice box! - **Primary Foods:** Xylem sap, Grapevine sap, Citrus sap, Oleander sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Grapevine (*Vitis vinifera*) — consumes xylem sap from its stems and leaves - **Depends on:** Common Grapevine (*Vitis vinifera*) — requires this plant for food and habitat throughout its life cycle - **Eaten by:** [Western Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-kingbird) (*Tyrannus verticalis*) — a common insectivorous bird that preys on various insects - **Eaten by:** Six-spotted Orbweaver (*Araniella displicata*) — this spider builds webs in plants and catches various insects ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to look at insects from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue-green Sharpshooter? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Blue-green Sharpshooter's wingspan? 7-12 mm ### How big is Blue-green Sharpshooter? 5-8 mm ### How long does Blue-green Sharpshooter live? 30-90 days ### What does Blue-green Sharpshooter eat? This insect enjoys drinking the watery sap from inside plant stems, like a tiny juice box! ### Where is Blue-green Sharpshooter usually found? Urban areas ### How does Blue-green Sharpshooter hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Blue-green Sharpshooter have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Bellevue Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-botanical-garden) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Portland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/portland-aquarium) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [Goldstream Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goldstream-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Blue-green Sharpshooter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-green-sharpshooter) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Blue-green Sharpshooter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-green-sharpshooter)