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| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erythroneura carinata | A banded species with a yellow or white dorsum and a red, orange, or brown color pattern. There are two parallel orange submedial lines on the head with a pale midline, though this can sometimes be fused into a single thicker mark. The body has three dark transverse bands- on the thorax, middle of the wings, and wing tips. The thoracic band, which extends across the upper part of the mesonotum/scutellum and most of the pronotum, is brownish-red; the apex of the scutellum is contrastingly pale. The anterior side of the band facing the vertex typically fades into the head. The band across the wings is a pale red, as if someone has erased the color of the band; this is key for the species. The wing tips are dark gray to blackish. There is a large blue to black spot on the costal margin of each wing, and a distal spot in the second apical wing cell. The face and underside of the thorax are completely pale. Adults are 3.0-3.2 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007) For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Recently recorded in the state, known from a few counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; likely more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found in mixed hardwood forest. | Vitis sp. (3I) | ||||||||
| Scaralina marmorata | A very distinctive and recognizable species that is highly variable (but localized) in color, with the body and anterior portions of the wings usually mottled with lichen-green, brown, and black coloration. The wings are reticulated with darker veins surrounding translucent wing cells, with dark markings on the basal half of the first claval vein interrupted; there is also a continuous dark transverse patch from the costa to the clavus, with pale crossveins. The base of the wings can show the lichen green and black color pattern found on the thorax, and there can be tiny red flecks along veins; there are many costal crossveins. The head is not strongly produced, being rather flat with eyes narrower than the pronotum, and the eyes are narrower than the pronotum. The sides of the face are parallel, and the frons has a broad pale upper margin that is otherwise dark below this; the clypeus is variable but is typically palest in the center and apically. The dark spots of the vertex are posterior in position, with restricted black markings very well-defined. The pronotal spots are well-defined, and the mesonotum center is largely pale (though it can be variably dark-marked). The legs are relatively long, especially the hind legs. The ninth abdominal tergite of the female is elongate, usually hiding the tenth and eleventh tergite; sternites are typically pale tan or basally black. Adults are about one inch in length and resemble small flattened cicadas. (UDEL, Yanega et al., 2024). Nymphs of the species are pale greenish overall with darker mottling and dense pale pinkish nodules. These nymphs are fairly flat and have a white face with two bold, black transverse bands. | Uncommon to locally common, with records across the state (though primarily the Piedmont and mountains) but not encountered frequently. | Found in deciduous forests. | Probably oaks (Yanega et al., 2024) such as Quercus nigra (BG). | ||||||||
| Pelitropis rotulata | A highly distinctive looking species, with a characteristic broad, flat head and bold wing venation that defines an oval area near the wing tips. This species is typically brownish in color, sometimes with rufous tints; the body itself has a very flattened appearance. Nymphs of this species are also distinctive, also having a characteristic flat head. They can range in color from yellow to green, and have two bright red dots at the tip of the abdomen. Like many planthopper nymphs, there may be hairs extending from the tip of the abdomen: see here and here. For more information about nymphs of this species, see: Pelitropis. | Uncommon, with scattered records across the state but most encountered in the Piedmont; possibly more abundant in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest habitat. | Recorded from: Ilex (Aquifoliaceae), Baccharis halimifolia L. (Asteraceae), Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. (Elaeagnaceae, cherry silverberry), Lyonia sp. (staggerbush), Rhododendron sp., Vaccinium corymbosum L. (highbush blueberry), Vaccinium sp. (Ericaceae), Quercus phellos L. (Fagaceae), Liquidambar styraciflua L. (Hamamelidaceae), Hypericum edisonianum (Small) P. Adams & N. Robson (Arcadian St. Johnswort, Clusiaceae [was Hypericaceae]), Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. (redbay; Lauraceae), Myrica cerifera L. (wax myrtle, Myricaceae), Ligustrum amurense Carrière (Amur privet; Oleaceae), Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L. (seagrape, Polygonaceae), Prunus serotina Ehrh. (black cherr), Pyrus communis L. (common pear, Rosaceae), Ulmus alata Michx. (winged elm; Ulmaceae), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. (Virginia creeper), Vitis rotundifolia Michx. (muscadine, Vitaceae) (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Saccharosydne saccharivora West Indian Canefly | A distinctive green species with orange eyes and black lines on the front of yellowish antennal segments. The head is narrow with respect to the thorax and projects forward past the eyes; likewise, the frons is also narrow. Nymphs are pale greenish, with a whitish middorsal stripe. (UDEL) | A locally common species where found, primarily in the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Grassy, brushy areas | Andropogon bicornis, Andropogon glomeratus (bushy bluestem), Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane); Sorghum sudanense (Sudangrass) (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Latalus sayii | A small, yellowish to brownish leafhopper with broad transverse white 'bands' contrasting with dark 'bands' on the wings, giving individuals a banded appearance that is characteristic of this species; the 'bands' are just pale or dark wing cells and/or venation. The wing tips have a black edge, and the underside of the face and thorax is dark. The vertex has four fuscous spots arranged in two rows towards the apex; the anterior spots are triangular, and the posterior pair is irregular in shape. The underside of the abdomen is banded, with alternating orange and black bands. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin shallowly concave/rounded. The male subgenital plates have the outer margins slightly and concavely narrowed towards the apexes. (DeLong 1948) For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser. | Recorded from the mountains where it appears to be locally abundant; also several records in the Piedmont. | Grassy, open areas with shrubby vegetation; meadow and pasures | Bluegrass, probably other grass species (DeLong 1948) | ||||||||
| Rhynchomitra recurva | A green species that resembles R. microrhina except for the head length and shape. In recurva, the head is not as long and as tapered as that of microrhina (which has a long, pointed and strongly tapered head), but not as short as that of lingula; recurva's head is stout and not sharply pointed. When viewed dorsally, the head has a rounded shape to it rather than elongated and pointed. Nymphs are supposedly darker than those of R. microrhina, being dark brown in color. | Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, possibly more abundant in the right habitat; very uncommon to rare. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Eragrostis curvula (weeping lovegrass, Poaceae) (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Pissonotus concolor | A very dark species with a dark brown to black body; adults are mostly concolorous/uniformly colored and have shiny bodies. The antennae and legs are pale to stramineous, and the face is almost entirely dark brown to black; the pronotum and mesonotum are also very dark brown. The wings are dark brown, lacking and transverse contrasting bands. Adult brachypterous females are around 3.4 mm long. (Bartlett & Deitz, 2000) | Rare. Recorded from a couple counties in the mountains, possibly more abundant in the right habitat. | Montane grassy areas | Asteraceae | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Hymetta kansasensis | The most boldly-marked member of this genus. The wings are milky-white with a bold, dark brown and red color pattern. The first two crossbands are brownish to reddish, with the first typically quite thick and strongly narrowed on the costal margin while the second is more of a broken oblique zig-zag line running from the plaque to the transverse apical red line; together they tend to form a large, characteristic dark saddle. The third band is a very dark inverted V. The costal plaque is [sometimes] dark. There is a black dot on the corium which touches the claval suture, and a small brownish spot on the clavus caudad of these; there are many small reddish flecks on the corium, clavus and [sometimes] costal plaque. The vertex is either unicolorous or with orange parallel submedial lines, often with a lateral branch. The disc of the pronotum is usually darkened, resulting in a diagnotistic yellowish-brown circular patch. The scutellum has a small black dot at the apex. The thoracic venter is entirely pale. Adults are 3.2-3.5 mm long. (3I; Fairbairn, 1928) For more images of this species, see: BG. For diagrams of this species, see: 3I. Young nymph instars are pale with blackish tarsi, with brownish-olive markings on the body. Young instars have darker markings, and the rest of the legs become olive-blackish. | Rare, only known from one county in the state, in the Piedmont; likely overlooked. | Can be found in mixed hardwood forest. | Cercis canadensis (red bud) (3I) | ||||||||
| Erythridula complex 2 Erythridula aesculella or rubroscuta | A largely bicolored hopper, mostly yellowish-white with variable red patches across the body: in some individuals the scutellum/pronotum lacks any red coloration, whereas in others these areas are entirely red. In all individuals though, there is an incomplete red transverse crossband across the middle of the wings. Adults are around 3.1-3.4 mm long. For more images of this group, see: BG. | Scattered records from the Piedmont and mountains, probably found throughout the state. | Forested areas | Both species primarily feed on Aesculus glabra: E. aesculella, E. rubroscuta. | ||||||||
| Homalodisca insolita Johnsongrass Sharpshooter | A large, slender leafhopper with a very distinct coloration. It has a mostly dark brown to black body with a large, bold yellowish to white band on the side of the abdomen. The head is speckled with small yellowish to whitish spots, and the eyes are bicolored. The legs can have red or yellow bases. The underside of the body is reddish in color. The female pregenital sternite has the caudal margin deeply and narrowly excavated. Adult males are 9.9-10.2 mm long, females are 10.8-11.0 mm. (Pollard, 1965) The infrequently encountered nymph is pale overall, with a light green abdomen and tan thorax and head. Many stripes and dots run across the body, and the eyes are red with white dashes on the edges. | Uncommon, has been recorded from a handful of counties in the mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain. Possibly more abundant in the state in the right habitat. | Recorded in the state in grassy, brushy habitats such as fields and power-line cuts. | Digitaria sanguinalis (crab grass), Panicum dichotimoflorum (fall panicum), Panicum maximum (Guinea grass), Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass), Prunus persica (peach), Citrus sinensis (orange) (3i). Also reported from Acanthus, Solanum elaeagnifolium (DL) H. insolita is a vector of phony peach disease virus. (Pollard, 1965) | ||||||||
| Flatormenis proxima Northern Flatid Planthopper | This species is often greenish in color, though color can vary slightly. The key characteristic for this species is the 90 degree angle to the rear corner of the wings, separating this from the similar Ormenoides venusta. There are two rows of broad, ordered wing (apical) cells at the rear of the wing that are noticeable, also helpful in distinguishing this species. Additionally, F. proxima lacks the orange edge to the wings that is characteristic of O. venusta. The legs are brownish, and the bottom edge of the wings is yellowish. Young nymphal instars are fairly pale in color with contrasting orange sections on the abdomen and thorax, but older instars can show the greenish color typical of adults as they age. As in the adult, the head of the nymphs is broad and flat, a useful characteristic in distinguishing from the very similar nymphs of Metcalfa pruinosa. Eggs are deposited in long, narrow whitish rows on the side of vegetation. | Common and locally abundant, this species has been primarily recorded across the state. | Found in grassy, brushy habitat, forest edge, and within mixed hardwood forest. | Polyphagous: Juglans nigra (Juglandaceae, black walnut), Ostrya virginiana (Betulaceae, hophornbeam), Quercus velutina (Fagaceae, black oak), Ulmus rubra (Ulmaceae, slippery elm), Maclura pomifera (Moraceae, osage orange), Morus rubra (Moraceae, red mulberry), Rumex obtusifolius (bitter dock, Polygonaceae), Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed, Phytolaccaceae), Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree, Magnoliaceae), Asimina triloba (Annonaceae, pawpaw), Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae, sassafras), Liquidambar styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae, sweetgum), Platanus occidentalis (Platanaceae, American sycamore), and 30 more in Wilson & McPhearson (1981). (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Idiocerus n-species Undescribed Idiocerus Species | A distinctive looking hopper, a rusty-brown yellowish color overall with black wing venation and white marks across the wings. The scutellum has a pale yellow base with two black triangles in the upper corner and a smaller black mark between them (not always present, perhaps a sexually dimorphic feature that is only present in males?); the posterior half of the scutellum may be yellow or show a white or red stripe. The pronotum is reddish-brown with a distinctive, broad longitudinal white stripe that typically ends before reaching the head. Males have a black clubbed-tip to the antennae, characteristic of male Idiocerus. The female pregenital sternite has a slightly waved posterior margin, with the slightest of notches. For more images of this species, see: BG. | Scattered records across the state, uncommon to locally common. | Has been found in grassy, brushy habitat near montane forest; also mixed hardwood forests. | |||||||||
| Penestragania alabamensis | A greenish to tan species, with many short whitish hairs (setae) scattered across the surface of the wings; sometimes there is a fuscous spot at the apex of the clavi (inner part of the wings) and the outer ends of the apical cells. The vertex is rounded and distinctly narrower than the pronotum. The posterior margin of the female pregenital sternite is produced on the median two thirds, sometimes with a small median notch. Fuscous spots are common in the posterior third of the anteapical cells. The posterior margin of the female pregenital sternite is produced on the median, occasionally with a small notch. Adults males are 4.0-4.7 mm long, females are 4.5-4.8 mm. (Beamer & Lawson, 1945), (Blocker, 1970) See here for more images of this species: BG. | A very uncommon species in the state, likely overlooked and under-collected and could turn up anywhere in the state. | Honey locust (Gleditsia triancanthos) (Blocker, 1970) | |||||||||
| Catonia picta | A very colorful and distinctive hopper with reddish-brown to orange wings with a prominent grayish-white transverse band; the thorax and head are a vibrant reddish color. The underside of the body is orange-brown, as are the legs. The face is tricolored and distinctive, with the top black, followed by a white band, then black and orange-brown and finally another white band; the clypeus is a pale orange color. Adults are 4.4-5.8 mm long. (O'Brien, 1971) | An uncommon species that can be locally abundant in some areas; recorded from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Pinus sp. (UDEL); also reported from oak-hickory. | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Graminella sonora | A pale tan species with four bold black dots on the edge of the vertex; the two inner dots are noticeably larger than the two dots at the apex, characteristic of this species. Adults are small, around 3.0 mm long or smaller. The combination of the coloration and pattern, together with the small size, are key characteristics for distinguishing this species from others in the genus; the wing venation is also more complicated than in other members of the genus, with more small cells. The individual male genital plates are triangular in shape, with sharp apexes that are divergent from one another. The female pregenital sternite has a moderate, rounded excavation on the medial half of the posterior margin, with a slight convex tooth in the middle and convex lateral margins to the sternite; the excavation is bordered with brown. For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser. | Recorded from primarily the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, where it can be locally common; probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found in a grassy, open area near forest edge. | |||||||||
| Clastoptera arborina Red Cedar Spittlebug | A reddish species with a pale zigzag transverse band across the middle of the body, and three bold reddish lines on the head and pronotum. Males can either be paler or darker than females, the latter of which tend to be fairly rufous in color. The rufous color helps set this species apart from other Clastoptera found in North Carolina, in particular C. obtusa. While dark males may resemble C. obtusa, they have more pale patches overall compared to C. obtusa which tend to be uniformly colored except for the white band and pale head; in particular, there tends to be a whitish patch near the base of each wing in both sexes that is a useful identifying mark. This species has a dark band across the face, wider in males, and can show a couple thinner dark bands between the eyes and frons. The area below the wide black band is pale. See here for a view of the face of both sexes, with the male on the bottom. Males are 3.5-3.9 mm long, while females are 3.7-4.1 mm (BG). | Recorded primarily from the Piedmont but also mountains, possibly more abundant in the state in the right habitat. | Where red-cedar or cypress is present. | Eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) (DL) | ||||||||
| Scaphoideus ochraceus | A distinctively orange colored species. The crown is cream colored with a thin brown anterior marginal line and a somewhat broad orange sinuous (wavy) band in front of the eyes; the rest of the head is cream colored. The face is yellow, sometimes with brown lines below the crown margin. The pronotum is orange with a central pale, cream-colored cruciate mark spanning from one pronotal margin to the the other. The scutellum is a mixture of orange a yellow/cream, with two bold orange spots in the anterior half. The wings are orange, sometimes yellowish, with some white spots; the wing venation is brown, dark near the wing tips. The legs are yellowish with some black spots. The underside of the body is mostly pale, a yellowish-brown with some dark brown spots. The male genital valve and plates are yellow, while the female pregenital sternite (sternite #7) is tan with a posterior dark brown medial spot; the posterior margin of the sternite are relatively straight, and there is no posterior notch. Adult males are 5.1-6.4 mm long, while females are 6.0-6.7 mm. (Barnett 1976) Nymphs are a pale orange overall, with several dark markings such as a dark spot on each side of the tip of the abdomen. | Uncommon, recorded from several counties across the state, probably more abundant in the state in the right habitat. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest habitat; also open woods and grassy areas. | Quercus, Andropogan furcatus, etc. (Barnett 1976) | ||||||||
| Stenocranus similis | A distinctive species that is sexually dimorphic. Males have fairly dark wings, with two main dark patches. Females only have one main dark patch on the wing, near the tips, and can sometimes lack dark patches all together, just having several dark spots. There is however a key characteristic shared among both sexes: the lack of a bold, contrasting white midline. Unlike other members of this genus, there is no bold white line down the vertex, thorax, and inner margin of the wings. There are several thin pale lines on the thorax, the middle of which extends onto the vertex; however, the two black marks on the tip of the head are bordered by the tan color of the head on both sides, rather than encapsulating a bold white line. This field mark can be clearly seen here. This species ranges in size from 4.5-6.0 mm (Beamer). For images of pinned male and female specimens, see: UDEL. | Pretty uncommon, recorded primarily from the Coastal Plain, probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Where native bamboo occurs. | Native bamboo: Arundinaria gigantea tecta (as Arundinaria tecta( (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae) (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Acanalonia servillei | A large species, adults are distinctive. They are greenish overall, with broad, rounded wings that have dense, reticulated wing venation. There is a yellowish midline stripe that begins on the top of the head and thorax and extends down the wings. The key characteristic in this species, differentiating it from A. conica, is the rounded head. Additionally, servillei has three prominent wing veins that curve upward and are parallel to one another; this is not a feature in conica. Legs are reddish-brown. Nymphs of this species are mostly pale overall, with a dark brown to black patch on the sides of the thorax, helping differentiate this nymph from other members of this genus. Here is an image of an adult just emerging from its nymph exoskeleton which shows the characteristic pattern. | Uncommon, primarily found along the coast, reaches into the eastern and southern Piedmont. | Typically found along the coast, but can occur inland. Has been found in grassy, open pine habitat, as well as near mixed hardwood forest. | Capparis comosa (Capparaceae) (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Tylozygus geometricus | A very distinctive, brightly colored species that is slightly smaller, at 4.2- 4.5 mm, compared to its cousin T. bifidus. This species is mostly green, with green wings, a partly green-colored scutellum, and a green pronotum. There are bold yellow transverse bands bordered by black bands on the top of the head and thorax, and the abdomen is dark with a tinge of yellow. Lastly, the face is dark, characteristic of this species (AI). There is a very dark form of this species where the green is replaced with a dark blue to black. It can range from partially bluish-black, showing some of the yellow and green lines found on normally colored adults, to an almost uniform bluish-black. This form though might only be found in Florida, per observations on Bugguide and iNaturalist. | Has been recorded across the state, primarily in the Piedmont; locally common where found, probably more common in the state in the right habitats. | Recorded in a variety of grassy and brushy habitats, including microstygium. Has also been found in mixed hardwood forests. | |||||||||
| Amycle vernalis | A distinctive looking brownish species with a long, flattened but slender head with relatively parallel sides, giving the appearance of an elongated nose. The base of the hind wing can be a pale pink, and there is a diagonal white band; the posterior margin is brown (UDEL). See here for some images of adults. | One individual collected in the Piedmont; possibly more abundant. | Multiple species, including: Eragrostis curvula (weeping lovegrass, Poaceae), Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem), A. virginicus (broomsedge bluestem), Danthonia sericea, and Deschampsia flexuosa (UDEL) | |||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Melanoliarus aridus | This species has a distinctive wing pattern. There are three spots in a diagonal line on each wing (in some bold specimens, these dots connect). The base of the wings are often dark, though this is not always present in some individuals. The wings are typically milky subhyaline but sometimes vitreous (clear). The wing veins are typically pale yellow basally, becoming brownish towards the apex; the stigma is light to dark brown. Overall, the coloration of this species is usually a reddish/brickish color, although it can range towards black. The vertex and mesonotum range in color from piceous (glossy brownish-black) to castaneous (chestnut), and the mesonotal carinae are concolorous in some specimens, but usually a dull orange or yellow-brown. The vertex is broad, with the median length equal to or exceeding the width at the apex of the posterior emargination. The face has various coloration but is usually chestnut- the median carinae are usually orange. However, there are two distinctive pale spots on the frons, characteristic of this species. The eyes are speckled, also characteristic of this species. Adult males are 5.9-8.4 mm long. (Mead & Kramer, 1982; S. Hendrix, pers. comments) For more images of this species, see: BG. For images of pinned specimens, see: BOLD. | Previously reported from the state; recently recorded from the Piedmont. Likely abundant across the state. | Adults have been collected from the following plants: Helianthus sp., Prunus persica, Vernonia interior, Polygonum sp., Medicago sativa, Apium graveolens, Prunus cerasus, Citrus paradisi, Carya sp., grass sp., Gossypium sp., Tillandsia usneoides, Quercus virginiana, Zea mays, Zanthoxylum clavaherculis. (Mead & Kramer, 1982) "Nymphs of cixiids are subterranean, feeding on roots and possibly fungi. The significance of adult host records is unclear. Many cixiids are presumed to be polyphagous (as adults), most often on woody plants." (UDEL) | |||||||||
| Eutettix pictus | Distinctively colored, this is the most colorful member of this genus. The wings are a dark brown to shiny black color with blackish edges and a small yellow-opaque 'saddle' near the apex of the clavus on the wings. The scutellum is completely yellow, as is part of the pronotum and head. A [typically] bold black bar across the front of the pronotum is diagnostic of this species (BG); the face is also black with a broad yellow band beneath the eyes. Some individuals can be exceptionally dark. The frons of females are yellow with a dark base; in males, the frons is yellow with a dark base and fuscous to black markings on the disc. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin broadly and concavely excavated with a median pointed tooth. Adults males are 5.0 mm, females are 6.5 mm long. (Hepner 1942, DeLong 1948) Nymphs have a pale body with many reddish-orange markings. | Scattered records across the state, probably more abundant in the right habitat, especially were oaks are present. | Mixed hardwood forest, where oaks are present; also pine-oak barrens (Chandler & Hamilton 2017). | Oaks (Quercus spp.), especially scrub oak (Chandler & Hamilton 2017) | ||||||||
| Negosiana negotiosa | Ochreous pale brown, the head and pronotum have numerous small, dark brown spots speckled across. Oman (1949) depicted this species with two spots on the scutellum, along the margin with the pronotum; 2 pairs of spots flanking the upper lateral margins of the pronotum; and two smaller spots on the crown close to the pronotum. There is dense, pigmented speckling across the surface of the head and pronotum. The head is broad, rounded and moderately projected, being less than two-thirds as long as the middle basal width between the eyes and two-thirds as long as the pronotum. The veins of the elytra are faintly margined with brown, with a few brown spots between the veins. There is one large large spot on each wing on the anterior portion of the disc. The female pregenital sternite is speckled and has a wavy, sinusoidal posterior margin with a hint trace of a notch on the median lobe. Adults are 7 to 8 mm long. (DeLong 1942, Beirne 1956) | Recorded in several counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; likely overlooked but not overly abundant. | Has been found in mixed hardwood forest. | |||||||||
| Telamona concava | A striking member of this genus, with a color pattern that varies among specimens. Typically, the body is a combination of a dark brown to black color with green to bluish blotches across the pronotum and on the legs. The pronotum has a prominent and tall crest, with a rounded top and a small posterior 'step'; the exact shape of the pronotal crest can vary between individuals (BG). | Uncommon with scattered records from the Piedmont and mountains, possibly more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Quercus alba (white oak), Q. velutina (black oak) (Wallace 2014) | ||||||||
| Ormenoides venusta | This species is typically greenish with a brown to orange border around the edges of the wings. Some individuals though can appear bright blue. Unlike Flatormenis proxima, the wings of Ormenoides have a single crossvein on the forewings (there are 2 in Flatormenis), and the wings are rounded apically rather than being truncate. Nymphs are greenish, with a white midline extending from the base of the head to the tip of the abdomen. There are orange spots on the thorax, and 4 to 6 small black dots near the tip of the abdomen. (BG) | A common species, recorded across the state with a majority of records coming from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Recorded from a variety of habitats, including grassy habitat and mixed hardwood forest. | Polyphagous, found on a variety of species. Reported on Digitaria sanguinalis (Poaceae, hairy crabgrass), Juglans nigra (Juglandaceae, black walnut), Quercus velutina (Fagaceae, black oak), Ulmus americana (Ulmaceae, American elm), Ulmus rubra (slippery elm), Maclura pomifera (Moraceae, osage orange), Morus rubra (Moraceae, red mulberry), Rumex obtusifolius (bitter dock, Polygonaceae), Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed, Phytolaccaceae), Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree, Magnoliaceae), Asimina triloba (Annonaceae, pawpaw), Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae, sassafras), Liquidambar styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae, sweetgum), Platanus occidentalis (Platanaceae, American sycamore), Geum canadense (white avens, Rosaceae), Prunus serotina (Rosaceae, black cherry), Rosa multiflora (rosaceae, multiflora rose), etc. (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Lycorma delicatula Spotted Lanternfly | A distinctive, large species, unlike anything else in our area. Adults have forewings that are pinkish-gray with bold black spots across the basal 2/3; the apical 1/3 of the wings are blackish with contrasting white wing venation, forming small black blocks. The forewings are a bold mixture of red and black with a diagonal white band. The antennal bases are orange. The legs and underside of the body are blackish-gray, with yellowish margins to the abdominal segments and [sometimes] a red tip to the abdomen. Adults are approximately 1 inch (~25 mm) long and 0.5 inches (~13 mm) wide. (NCDA&CS) The first three nymphal instars are black with scattered white spots. The fourth instar is largely red with black and white markings. Here is an image showing the full life cycle. Egg masses are brownish and can sometimes be covered with a grayish waxy layer, giving a mud-like appearance. | Two recent adult records from the mountains from two different counties, and a nymph from the coast, plus a few other counties noted as having sightings of lone individuals so far- this species is not yet established in North Carolina. | Orchards, vineyards, residential areas, etc. | Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is the primary host plant; also likes grape. When numbers are higher, individuals move to red and silver maple. However, this species is known to feed on 103 plant species, of which 56 are present in North America. (ET, UDEL) For lists of various host plant species, see the information at the bottom of this page: UDEL. | ||||||||
| Empoa saffrana | A yellowish species with the basal two-thirds of the wings unmarked; in teneral specimens, the wings are ivory-white. The apex of the wings have four or more dark brown spots around the apical crossveins; these spots, together with the yellow wings, distinguish this species from others. In some individuals, the spots may not be as bold, but together they form an arced 'band' along the apical crossveins. The wingtips are largely hyaline. (Hamilton, 1983) | Recorded from a few counties in the mountains and Piedmont, likely more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Reported from Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), beech (Fagus grandifolia), American elm (Ulmus americana), Ulmus sp. (Hamilton 1983) | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Ossiannilssonola hinei | A very distinctive species. Chalky white overall, with two transverse dark brown bands across the wings: one across the base of the wings and the other before the apical crossveins. The wing venation is white; the abdomen is yellow. Adults are 3.5-4.0 mm long. (Christian, 1953) | Recorded from a few counties in the mountains and Piedmont, rare; possibly more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found near montane and suburban mixed hardwood forest. | White Oak (Quercus alba) (Christian, 1953) | ||||||||
| Alebra aurea | Males are a vibrant yellow to golden-yellow color, paler towards the wing tips and unmarked. Females are yellow to orange-yellow, rarely colored like the male. The head is broader across the eyes than the combined length of the head and pronotum, with the eyes longer than the pronotum behind the eyes. The lateral margins of the pronotum are strongly divergent, and the wings/tegmina are at least four times as long as wide. Adult males are 3.3-4.2 mm long, while females are 3.4-4.5 mm. (Hamilton, 1995) | Uncommon with scattered records across the state, primarily from the mountains and Piedmont; likely more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found near mixed to open hardwood forest habitat. | Primarily oaks (all Quercus spp.), but recorded from many other species including: hickory and pecan (Carya spp.), beech (Fagus grandifolia), hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). Also recorded in small numbers from Acer, Asimia, Carpinus, Castanea, Cercis, Corylus, Ulmus and Vitis spp. (Hamilton, 1995) | ||||||||
| Dikrella cruentata | A pale white or yellowish species, with two pairs of oblique yellow to bright red lines across the wings, a median stripe on the vertex, and two stripes on the pronotum that arise from the vertex. There are black markings at the cross nervures of the wing apices. The female pregenital sternite is one-half longer than the preceding, with the posterior margin strongly produced from lateral angles to a broad median, convex tooth. Male subgenital plates drastically taper toward the apices, appearing pinched on the lateral margins. Adults are 2.75-3.0 mm long. (Ball & DeLong, 1925) There are three described varieties of this species: kansiensis (which has a slightly different shape to the pregenital sternite), lavata (which is entirely pale, creamy, or with slight smoky indications near the cross-veins), and rubricata (which has an entirely red scutellum and broader red markings and smoky band than usual). For additional images of this species, see: BG. | Rare, two recent records from the Piedmont and mountains; likely under collected and more abundant in the right habitat. | Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch), Betula papyrifera (white birch), Rubus sp., Viburnum alnifolium (hobble bush) (3I); also speckled alder, witch-hazel, jewelweed, buckeye, apples, striped maple, skunk cabbage, and American hazel (Chandler & Hamilton, 2017). | |||||||||
| Paramesus major | A light brown-stramineous to greenish-stramineous species. There is a prominent black transverse band across the vertex, typically with a perpendicular brown to reddish-brown indistinct band posterior to this black one and running between the eyes; the vertex margin is a creamy color, with the marginal band continuing across the eyes. The wing venation is boldly outlined with pale coloration. Adults are 5.0-6.5 mm (Beirne, 1956). For more images of this species, see: BG. | Rare, only recently detected in the state from the coast. Likely to expand and become more widespread in the future. | Mixed grassland-forest areas (Gareau, 2008), other open grassy areas | Monophagous on Bulboschoenus maritimus (Nickel, 2003) | ||||||||
| Enchenopa on-carya Undescribed Enchenopa on Hickory | A dark, blackish-brown species with two distinctive yellowish marks down the back. The wings are mostly concolorous with the rest of the body, with rufous-tinted tips. Sexes can be distinguished from one another by the length of the horn- in females, the horn is noticeably long and prominent, while in males the horn is much smaller, sometimes nothing more than a little nub. Egg masses are whitish in color, resembling raised shells on a stem. See here for a nice depiction of the life cycle of nymphs of this genus. | Recorded from a couple counties in the mountains and Piedmont; likely more widespread and just under-reported. | Woodlands | Hickory (Carya spp., e.g. Carya tomentosa, C. ovata) | ||||||||
| Enchenopa binotata Two-marked Treehopper | A dark, blackish-brown species with two distinctive yellowish marks down the back. The wings are mostly concolorous with the rest of the body, with rufous-tinted tips. Sexes can be distinguished from one another by the length of the horn- in females, the horn is noticeably long and prominent, while in males the horn is much smaller, sometimes nothing more than a little nub. Egg masses are whitish in color, resembling raised shells on a stem. Nymphs are a grayish color, with a small forward-facing horn and spines down the middle of the abdomen. See here for a nice depiction of the life cycle of nymphs of this genus. For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Recorded recently from a single county in the mountains, likely more abundant and under-reported. | Woodlands | American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) (Deitz & Wallace, 2012), Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) | ||||||||
| Melanoliarus ecologus | A small species, with males ranging from 3.7 to 4.5 mm long. The vertex and mesonotum are piceous (glossy brown to black) in most specimens, fuscous in others; the carinae of the mesonotum ranges from concolorous to a dull orange in most specimens, black or dark brown in others. The vertex is narrow, with the median length distinctly larger than the width at the apex of the posterior emargination. The face is piceous or fuscous with prominent carinae that are orange or yellow. The wings lack large spots or bands but have suffusion around the apical crossveins, with the membrane typically with a slightly dusky color though glossy clear in some specimens. The wing venation is typically pale, becoming brown apically. (Mead & Kramer, 1982) | Recorded from a few counties in the Piedmont; should also be found in the mountains, as extensively collected from GSMNP across the state line. | Floodplain woods, prairie meadow, etc. (Mead & Kramer, 1982) | "Nymphs of cixiids are subterranean, feeding on roots and possibly fungi. The significance of adult host records is unclear. Many cixiids are presumed to be polyphagous (as adults), most often on woody plants." (UDEL) | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Penepissonotus bicolor | A very distinctive species that, as the scientific name suggest, is bicolored. The head, eyes, and upper half of the thorax are black while the rest of the body and wings are brownish. The first antennal segment is black while the second is a contrasting brown, and the face is brown. The species is typically macropterous (long-winged), but brachypterous (short-winged) adults do occur. | Uncommon, scattered records across the state, primarily from the Piedmont. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Schoenoplectus, probably other sedges; found near the base of the plant and not easily captured sweeping (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Reventazonia lawsoni | A brownish species, somewhat variable among individuals. In well-marked individuals, the vertex has six dark spots on the margin, with the two largest spots slightly in from the margin, along the midline (i.e. not all of the spots are along the edge). The pronotum has six brownish longitudinal stripes, the central two of which extend down from the crown. The scutellum usually has a pair of pale brown to black narrow longitudinal strieps. The forewings are a pale brown, with the edges of the yellowish-white veins narrowly to broadly infuscated; in some individuals, the apical cells are darkened distally. There are three anteapical wing cells (which is shared by Amplicephalus osborni), with the middle one divided (the anteapical cells are the the row of cells preceding those on the edge of the wing; note the middle cell is divided in two). The female pregenital sternite narrows distally, exposing the underlying sclerites laterally. The posterior margin is trilobed with the central lobe the most clearly defined. The male genital plates are sharply triangular, laterally concave. Adult males are 4.0-4.4 mm long, while females are 4.3-5.0 mm. (Kramer 1971) | Recorded from a few counties in the Piedmont, uncommon to rare; probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found in open woodlands, forest edge, and grassy areas | Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) (Kramer 1971) | ||||||||
| Delphacodes shermani | Brachypterous adults are generally buffy-yellow. Males have a polished black face and have black spots across parts of the body, including ones near the middle of the abdomen which form a broad crossband. The genital capsule is black except for the extreme dorsum and the penultimate segment. Females have a tan face and scattered black spots below the ocelli, above the middle and hind coxae, and on the lateral margin of each tergum of the abdomen. Brachypterous individuals resemble brachypters but have an almost exclusively white pronotum. Brachypterous males are around 2.3 mm long while females are 3.0 mm; macropterous males are between 2.4 and 3.3 mm. (DuBose 1960) | Rare, recorded from a few counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Probably grassy areas. | Has been found in NC on Eastern Gamagrass | ||||||||
| Osbornellus unicolor | This species is brownish overall, with dense brown coloring and no bold markings on much of the body and wings; the wing venation is dark, and the tips of the wings are blackish. The face, vertex and pronotum are a uniform brown color. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin truncated, often times with an indication of a central tooth; on either side of this tooth the segment is emarginate. Adults are 5.0 mm long. (Beamer 1937), (DeLong 1948) For images of a live individual, see: BG. | Recorded from a few counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; rare, possibly under collected. | Woodlands | Herbaceous vegetation | ||||||||
| Draeculacephala bradleyi | Greenish overall with pale wing venation. Females and males have a black face; however, some males (such as the specimen above) can have paler, brown faces. Females are distinctive in that they are the only females of a Draeculacephala in our region with a black face. The underside of the thorax and abdomen are brown. Females have a noticeably long and pointed head, triangular in shape with relatively straight margins (not concave). Males have much shorter, not as finely pointed heads. Males are less than 6.6 mm long, while females are less than 8.0 mm. (Young 1959) For images of live individuals, see: BG. | Uncommon to rare in the state with only a handful of records from across the state, most abundant in the Coastal Plain; likely overlooked. | On the coast, has been found in pocosin, dry oak and maritime shrub. | ? | ||||||||
| Cyrpoptus reineckei | The written description for this species is "forewing extensively darkened distally, with distinct transparent oblique vitta from costal margin in apical portion reaching to or beyond midline" (UDEL). This species is dark overall, with mostly darkened wings lacking much of the pattern found on C. belfragei. There IS a diagonal bar of pale to transparent wing cells near the apex of the wings: see here. Nymphs are yellowish-orange overall, the the flattened head and shape characteristic of adults in this genus. | Recorded from a few counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; uncommon to rare in the state. | Panicum repens (torpedo grass), Muhlenbergia filipes (gulfhairawn muhly, as Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes), Andropogon glaucopsis (purple bluestem), Andropogon gyrans (Elliott’s bluestem), Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem), Spartina bakeri (sand cordgrass), Eragrostis curvula, Deschampsia flexuosa (wavy hairgrass) (UDEL) | |||||||||
| Oncopsis nigrinasi | A typically dark species. Males have a black venter, dark brown to blackish face, paler yellowish-brown pronotum speckled with dark coloration, reddish brown scutellum, and contrasting yellow legs. The wings are ferruginous to dark brown with a pale spot along the apex of the commissure (inner edge of the wings). Females are quite variable, typical of members of Oncopsis. Color ranges from being completely dark with mostly black wings and a slightly paler clavus and thorax (phase A, 2%); black with hyaline, clear "windows" in the wings (phase B, 4%), entirely ferruginous or grey (phase H, 24%); yellowish wings with a contrasting black scutellum and face (phase G, 20%); yellowish, ferruginous with dark markings on the scutellum and a dark face (phase F, 41%); and mottled with ferruginous, brown, and black with a bright yellow venter (variations: phase C, 2%; phase D, 2%; phase E, 5%). Females have a very short, truncated pregenital sternite that is broadly excavated; this sternite shape is characteristic of this species. Adult males are 4.1-4.6 mm long, while females are 4.3-4.9 mm. The nymph of this species is entirely ferruginous. (Hamilton 1983) | Uncommon to rare in the state with scattered records, only one of which is recent; probably more abundant in the mountains, but has also been found in multiple locations in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain (which is perhaps a result of the widespread distribution of the host plant), differing from the distributions of other Oncopsis that occur in the state. | Forest, open woodlands, shrubby areas | The only macrospine species known to feed on blue-beech/American hornbean (Carpinus caroliniana) (Hamilton 1983) | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Stobaera tricarinata | Kramer (1973) notes that "the forewing varies from nearly immaculate to strongly marked with fuscus like concinna or rarely nearly entirely fuscus. The interocular portion of the frons is tan in females to fuscus in males, followed by a pale and then blackish transverse band; the central portion of the frons is pale and unmarked in both sexes, the basal portion of the frons on each side of the central carina is almost always darkened with fuscus or black. The clypeus is either unmarked or lightly marked with fuscus. The otherwise pale legs are ringed with fuscus to black." Note that all of the Stobaera species are similar in appearance, but the face pattern is a key characteristic for distinguishing species. Also note that in tricarinata (and concinna), the vertex is about as wide as it is long, contrasting with the noticeably wider vertex of pallida. Males are 2.8 - 4.6 mm long while females are 2.9 - 4.8 mm. (Kramer, 1973), (UDEL) | Uncommon to locally common, recorded across the state. | Probably near grassy areas | Ambrosia spp. (ragweed), Helianthus argophyllus (silverleaf sunflower) (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Telamona tristis | A species that varies greatly in coloration, ranging from a mottled dark to largely yellowish bordered with dark. The key characteristic of this species is the square, block-shape of the crest, which readily differentiates this species from other similar members of the genus. The tegmina is hyaline and tipped with brown. The underside of the thorax is flavous, and the abdomen is brownish. The legs are ferruginous. Adults are 8.0-8.5 mm long (up to 9.5 mm in some individuals), 5 mm wide. (Kopp and Yonke, 1974) Nymphs are grayish-brown overall, typical for the genus. | Several records from the Piedmont and mountains, likely more abundant in the state and overlooked, as it is found in the surrounding states. | Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam), Carya ovata (shagbark hickory), Corylus americana (American hazelnut), Hamamelis virginiana (American witchhazel), Ostrya virginiana (hophornbeam), Quercus alba (white oak), Q. macrocarpa (bur oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak), Q. velutina (black oak), Tilia americana (American basswood) (Wallace 2014). | |||||||||
| Melanoliarus humilis | A distinctive species. The vertex and mesonotum are dark brown to black, and the face is entirely fuscous except for carinae that vary from brown to dull orange. The vertex is variably wide but usually appears broad and divergent basally. The wings lack spots and are hyaline except for the apical third (the tips), which are contrastingly dark; in some specimens, the basal two-thirds of the wing are almost concolorous with the tips. The wing venation is a uniform brown color. Small, with males 4.1 to 5.0 mm long. (Mead & Kramer, 1982) See here for images of live adults, and here for pinned specimens. | Recorded from across the state, but priamrily in the Piedmont; for some reason, this species seems to be quite locally abundant in North Carolina compared to other states. | Has been reported from pasture, bogs, prairie, river edge, rye, etc.; seems to predominate in damp habitats in cooler climates. (Mead & Kramer, 1982) | Adults have been taken from Poa pratensis, Carya sp., Asimina sp., and Medicago sativa. (Mead & Kramer, 1982) "Nymphs of cixiids are subterranean, feeding on roots and possibly fungi. The significance of adult host records is unclear. Many cixiids are presumed to be polyphagous (as adults), most often on woody plants." (UDEL) | ||||||||
| Haplaxius fulvus | A fairly distinctive and diagnostic species, it is a uniform yellow, orange-yellow, or orange color. The forewings are hyaline, with the venation concolorous with the body. The eyes are a contrastingly whitish color. Adult males are 3.5-4.0 mm long, females are 4.0-4.6 mm. (Kramer, 1979) | Three recent records from the Piedmont, likely more widespread but in lower numbers across at least this part of the state. | Has been found in suburban, open woodland habitat. | Recorded on Solidago | ||||||||
| Cyrtolobus funkhouseri | Females are moderately hairy, with short hairs, and shallow punctures of the pronotum; the surfaces is smooth and somewhat shiny. The color is a dingy reddish brown, paler anteriorly. The face is a creamy white color, finely punctured with light reddish brown. The pronotum is pale brown mixed with cream, with darker reddish brown bands rising from above the eyes. There is an oblique diagonal whitish band extending backwards from the crest to the lateral margins of the pronotum, and a vertical thicker band near the apex. There is a mid-dorsal translucent spot, and the lateral margins of the pronotom are bordered with white (characteristic of this species). The forewings are hyaline, with a testaceous base. Males are similar to females, strongly shining and ranging in color from red to black. The pale markings are whiter and more clearly defined than in the females. The body beneath is black (whereas in females it is testaceous), and the legs are testaceous as well, differing from the females in having black femora. The forewings are hyaline and clearer than in females. Adult males are 5.0 mm long, while females are 5.5 mm. (Kopp & Yonke, 1973) | Uncommon, scattered records primarily across the Piedmont. Seasonal distribution: 13 May-11 June (CTNC) | Forest, woodlands | Pin oak (Quercus palustris) (CTNC); also reported from red oak, scarlet oak, Quercus bicolor, and Q. imbricaria (Kopp & Yonke, 1973) | ||||||||
| Cyrtolobus fuscipennis | A reddish-brown species that is highly variable in coloration. Males have a reddish face and a low pronotum with bold, pale transverse lines/vittae and a bold mid-dorsal whitish spot; the pronotum is reddish-brown with some black. The underside of the body is black, and the forewings, which far exceed past the pronotum, are smoky and broadly infuscated at the apices. The legs are pale with the femora black above. Females have large, prominent ocelli (light-sensing organ on head), which are red. The pronotum is reddish-brown, more so than on the male, and with fainter pale transverse bands; in some individuals the rear transverse line is absent, resulting in the pronotum being posteriorly uniform in color. The pronotal crest is low (but still higher than on the male, which mostly lacks a crest), and the head is a gray-green color, deeply punctate with black; the areas next to the eyes are black. The underside of the thorax is reddish-brown, while the abdomen is yellowish; legs are reddish. Adult males are 5.5 mm long, while females are 6 mm long and 2.4 mm wide. (Kopp, 1973) | Uncommon, recorded across the state. Seasonal distribution: 24 April-22 July (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest habitat. | Quercus alba, Q. nigra (CTNC); also reported from bur oak, red oak, blackjack oak and post oak (Kopp, 1973). | ||||||||
| Cyrtolobus flavolatus | Males are brownish overall, with a brownish tinge to the wings and a brown smudge at the rear of the wing. The pronotum is not overly pronounced, with a minimal crest. There is a pale yellowish band on the outer edge of the pronotum, beginning from the eyes, and a small transverse band at the rear of the pronotum. The front of the pronotum and the face can also be yellowish. Females resemble the males but are a much duller brown overall, lacking the sharp contrast between the yellow lateral bands on the pronotum. Female pronotal crests are also slightly higher than in males. Nymphs are yellowish-green overall, with brownish-orange spines and three brownish-orange stripes across the thorax: a diagonal one on the wing pad, and two other vertical ones above the head. | Very uncommon but can be locally abundant at sites- recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and Mountains. Seasonal distribution: 18 May-18 June (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Quercus alba (CTGSMNP) | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Stictocephala bisonia Buffalo Treehopper | This species is typically greenish overall, with densely scattered pale whitish dots across the pronotum and pronotal ridges that are outlined in a yellowish-cream color. The pronotum itself appears 'boxy,' being noticeably high and large and strongly arched; this species lacks pubescence across the pronotum. The leg color is greenish. Nymphs are a spotted brown color. | Uncommon with scattered records across the state, seemingly more abundant in the West. Seasonal distribution: 16 July-30 September (CTNC) | Forested areas | Glycine max (CTNC) | ||||||||