Stenocranus major

Description

Length 5.5 to 6.5 mm. A large slender planthopper associated with Reed Canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea.  Light brown with paler, orange-edged longitudinal stripe down centre of head, pronotum and scutellum.  The forewing has a darker longitudinal band.  The short, fine lines on the vertex are black.  The vertex is short and rounded, and in side view, the head is not as elongated as the common S minutus.  The parameres are slightly S-shaped.

Similar Species

Other Stenocranus - especially S fuscovittatus, which has strongly S-shaped parameres and is associated with sedges.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph from top down and from side, with clear lateral view of the head

Habitat

Damp grassland with Phalaris arundinacea

When to see it

Adult: February to October.

UK Status

Local (ref.: UK Auchenorrhyncha checklist 2021) but may be expanding its range

VC55 Status

Frequently recorded on its host-plant

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
insect - true bug (Hemiptera)
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Delphacidae
Records on NatureSpot:
17
First record:
02/04/2011 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
30/09/2025 (Timms, Sue)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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