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Zygina hyperici
Family: Cicadellidae

Zygina is a complex genus, most with a distinctive red zig-zag pattern covering the forewings. The patterns are variable, and identification can be difficult; care must be taken to look at the right combination of features and microscopic confirmation is necessary in some cases. Females may not be identifiable. 

Z. hyperci is a distinctive species which is sexually dimorphic;
males are yellow with the apex of the scutellum dark, while females are whitish-yellow with broad dark red markings running across the centre of the dorsal surface, covering the majority of the scutellum and clavus.

A local species, found mainly in southern chalk grasslands on St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum.

Adult: July to September
Length: 2.0-3.0 mm
         

Zygina hyperici
Adult female: Surrey (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Zygina hyperici Zygina hyperici
Adult female: Surrey (August 2010) ©Sarah Barnes

Adult female: Surrey (August 2010) ©Sarah Barnes
Zygina hyperici
Adult female: Surrey (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock

Adult male: Surrey (August 2010) ©Tristan Bantock