# Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (*Homalodisca vitripennis*) The Glassy-winged Sharpshooter is a colorful insect with big wings that look like glass! They are known for their jumping skills and love to sip on plant juices. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Glassy-winged Sharpshooter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Homalodisca_vitripennis_1355010.jpg&width=800) Photo: Reyes Garcia III, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homalodisca_vitripennis_1355010.jpg) ## Appearance The Glassy-winged Sharpshooter is a dark brown to black insect, approximately half an inch long, with distinctive light yellow spots on its head and thorax. Its most striking feature is its transparent, 'glassy' wings, which are slightly tinted with red veins, giving it a unique, see-through appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Cicadellidae - **Genus:** Homalodisca ## Interesting facts - Glassy wings look see-through, helping it blend into leaves. - It carries invisible germs that can make grapevines very sick! - It drinks hundreds of times its body weight in plant juice every day! - This tiny bug can shoot water out its rear like a miniature cannon! ## Special abilities - **Super Sip-and-Strip:** Glassy-winged Sharpshooter can drink huge amounts of plant sap because of its powerful piercing-sucking mouthparts that helps them access plant xylem. - **Liquid Launch:** Glassy-winged Sharpshooter can shoot tiny jets of water from its rear end because of its efficient digestive system that helps them get rid of excess sap. - **Invisible Pest Carrier:** Glassy-winged Sharpshooter has a special ability to carry harmful bacteria that helps them spread serious diseases between many different plants. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 24-28 mm - **Size:** 12-14 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-90 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This insect drinks nutrient-poor sap from plant stems and leaves all day long. - **Primary Foods:** Grapevine sap, Citrus tree sap, Oleander sap, Almond tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** Xylella bacterium (*Xylella fastidiosa*) — Carries and protects bacteria that cause plant diseases. - **Eats:** Common Grape Vine (*Vitis vinifera*) — Feeds on sap, often spreading deadly Pierce's Disease. - **Eats:** Sweet Orange (*Citrus sinensis*) — Feeds on sap, potentially transmitting citrus variegation. - **Eats:** [Oleander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oleander) (*Nerium oleander*) — Feeds on sap, common host in gardens and landscapes. - **Parasitizes:** Sharpshooter Parasitoid Wasp (*Gonatopus ashmeadi*) — Larval wasps develop inside and consume sharpshooter nymphs. ## Traits - [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 not dangerous, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Glassy-winged 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 Glassy-winged Sharpshooter's wingspan? 24-28 mm ### How big is Glassy-winged Sharpshooter? 12-14 mm ### How long does Glassy-winged Sharpshooter live? 60-90 days ### What does Glassy-winged Sharpshooter eat? This insect drinks nutrient-poor sap from plant stems and leaves all day long. ### Where is Glassy-winged Sharpshooter usually found? Urban areas ### How does Glassy-winged Sharpshooter hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Glassy-winged Sharpshooter have? 6 ## Where to spot - [East Wetumpka Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-wetumpka-commercial-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Huntingdon College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huntingdon-college) — Alabama, US · Campus - [Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lady-bird-johnson-wildflower-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Old Clinton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-clinton-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Thomasville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thomasville-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Brock Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brock-park) — Texas, US · Park [View all places to see Glassy-winged Sharpshooter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/glassy-winged-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: [Glassy-winged Sharpshooter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glassy-winged-sharpshooter)