# Broad-headed Sharpshooter (*Oncometopia orbona*) The Broad-headed Sharpshooter is a colorful insect known for its bright green body and big head. It loves to hop around and can often be found on plants, where it enjoys sipping on sweet plant juices. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Broad-headed Sharpshooter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Broad-headed_Sharpshooter_-_Flickr_-_treegrow_%281%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Broad-headed_Sharpshooter_-_Flickr_-_treegrow_%281%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Broad-headed Sharpshooter is a striking insect, often metallic blue-black with vibrant reddish-orange markings on its broad head and wing veins. Its distinctive broad, flattened head sets it apart from many other leafhoppers, giving it a unique profile. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Cicadellidae - **Genus:** Oncometopia ## Interesting facts - A single sharpshooter can drink hundreds of times its own weight in plant sap daily! - They are called 'sharpshooters' because of their pointed head and fast, darting movements! - They talk using tiny vibrations that travel through plant stems, a secret language! - This insect drinks so much plant sap it actually 'pees' out tiny water droplets! ## Special abilities - **Xylem Sap Feeder:** Broad-headed Sharpshooter has specialized mouthparts that help them drink watery sap directly from plant xylem, a challenging food source. - **Powerful Leaper:** Broad-headed Sharpshooter can unleash powerful jumps using strong hind legs, allowing them to escape predators rapidly from plants. - **Water Excretion:** Broad-headed Sharpshooter can excrete excess water as tiny droplets because their diet is mostly watery xylem sap, helping them concentrate nutrients. - **Vibrational Chat:** Broad-headed Sharpshooter can communicate through substrate vibrations because they use plants as a medium to find mates and warn others. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 10-14 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These tiny insects drink watery plant sap from stems and leaves, like drinking through a straw! - **Primary Foods:** xylem sap, oak sap, maple sap, various broadleaf plant sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Red Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-maple) (*Acer rubrum*) — A common food source for nymphs and adults. - **Depends on:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Another important host plant, providing essential xylem sap. - **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Often ambushed by this camouflaged predator on flowers. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A common bird that will forage for insects, including sharpshooters. ## Traits - [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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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 These insects are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Broad-headed 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. ### How big is Broad-headed Sharpshooter? 10-14 mm ### How long does Broad-headed Sharpshooter live? 30-90 days ### What does Broad-headed Sharpshooter eat? These tiny insects drink watery plant sap from stems and leaves, like drinking through a straw! ### Where is Broad-headed Sharpshooter usually found? Urban areas ### How does Broad-headed Sharpshooter hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Broad-headed Sharpshooter have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Central Shelby Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-shelby-historic-district) — North Carolina, US · Historic District - [Fairlie-Poplar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairlie-poplar) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Marked Tree Lock and Siphons](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marked-tree-lock-and-siphons) — Arkansas, US · Historic Site - [Rosemark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosemark) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Anderson Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Automotive Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/automotive-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see Broad-headed Sharpshooter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/broad-headed-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: [Broad-headed Sharpshooter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-headed-sharpshooter)