| 50 most recent updates | ||||||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glossonotus univittatus | A reddish-brown to dark brown species that resembles G. turriculatus but has a shorter pronotal horn. Like G. turriculatus, this species has a whitish edge to the inner part of the pronotal horn and the pronotum, often times extending to the rear tip of the pronotum. | Several records across the state; uncommon to rare. Seasonal distribution: 16 May-4 August (CTNC) | Quercus alba, Q. rubra (CTNC); also Q. falcata (CTGSMNP) as well as Q. ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak), Q. macrocarpa (bur oak), and Q. velutina (black oak) (Wallace 2014). Adults have additionally been found on Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch), Castanea dentata (American chestnut), Carya (hickory), Corylus americana (American hazelnut), Prunus serotina (black cherry), Q. berberidifolia (California scrub oak), Q. bicolor (swamp white oak), Q. coccinea (scarlet oak), Q. ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak), Q. montana (chestnut oak), Q. palustris (pin oak), Salix nigra (black willow), Salix scouleriana (Scouler’s willow), and Vitis (grape) (Wallace 2014). | |||||||||
| Glossonotus turriculatus | A brown to grayish-brown species with a long, slender and narrow pronotal horn that slopes forward. The inner margin of the horn and part of the pronotum can have a light yellowish stripe that contrasts with the darker color of the pronotum. The face is pale yellowish and the legs are yellow. For images of this species, see: BG. | Recorded from a couple counties in the mountains and recently from the Piedmont. Seasonal distribution: 15-20 June (CTNC) | Crataegus sp., Quercus sp. (CTNC), and Quercus alba (white oak). Adults have also been found on Carya (hickory), Populus (cottonwood), Q. bicolor (swamp white oak), Q. coccinea (scarlet oak), Q. ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak), Q. ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak), Q. macrocarpa (bur oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak), Q. velutina (black oak), and Robinia (locust) (Wallace 2014). | |||||||||
| Glossonotus acuminatus | A grayish-brown species with a long, slender pronotal horn with a rounded tip. The horn can be mottled, with black lining the edge and white spots present on the surface. Nymphs are brownish overall, a similar color to that of the adults. There is a row of pairs of spines going down the abdomen, as well as a pair of spines in the middle of the thorax. A small forward-facing horn projects from the pronotum. | Seasonal distribution: 6 May-14 June (CTNC) | Southern red oak (Quercus falcata) (CTNC); has also been associated with American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) and black oak (Q. velutina) . Adults have additionally been found on Pyrus (pear), Quercus alba (white oak), Q. bicolor (swamp white oak), Q. coccinea (scarlet oak), Q. ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak), Q. montana (chestnut oak), Q. palustris (pin oak), Q. phellos (willow oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak), Q. stellata (post oak), and Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) (Wallace 2014). | |||||||||
| Archasia pallida | A variably colored species, ranging from yellow to brown to green to blue with a heavy dark line along the ridge and indistinct scattered pale spots. This species has a somewhat rounded, pyramidal crest that is shorter than the other two members of this genus, sloping toward the head. Females have a higher crest than males, and there is a thin brownish fringe to the crest. There are also several black dots above the eyes on the pronotum. The tegmina are largely hyaline with a blackish smudge at the tips; the venation is pale. Males are 8 mm long, while females are 9 mm; height of pronotum is 4.5 mm. (FCSA; Kopp & Yonke, 1974) | A somewhat uncommon to rare species, with several recent records from the Piedmont. Found from late April to early July (FCSA) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Quercus sp. (FCSA) ; also Q. palustris (pin oak) and Q. phellos (willow oak) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Archasia belfragei | A distinctive green species with the dorsal crest of the pronotum rising nearly vertically above the head. The pronotum is high and strongly foliaceous, with a thin but bold brown margin; it is closely but weakly punctate and is not pubescent. The head is nearly twice as wide as long and is smooth, sparingly pubescent. The eyes are [typically] a very prominent brown. The tegmina are smoky hyaline with a dark brown smudge at the tips of the wings; the venation is brownish. The undersurface of the body is yellow-brown, the abdomen is brown and the legs are a dull yellow-brown; the tibiae are pubescent. Adults are around 9 mm long and 4.5 mm wide, and the pronotum has a height of 5 mm. (Kopp & Yonke, 1974) Nymphs are brownish, with a short crest rising from the pronotum. | Uncommon with scattered records across the state. Seasonal distribution: 12 May-11 September (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Quercus alba, Q. phellos (CTNC); has also been collected from Quercus falcata, Platanus occidentalis, and Robinia pseudoacacia (CTGSMNP), as well as black oak, bur oak, wild grape, plum, goldenrod, and apple (Kopp & Yonke, 1974); nymphs have also been found on Q. ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak), Q. montana (chestnut oak), and Q. stellata (post oak) (Wallace 2014). Adults have additionally been associated with Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree), Q. bicolor (swamp white oak), Q. coccinea (scarlet oak), Q. palustris (pin oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak), Q. virginiana (live oak), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), Solidago (goldenrod), Vaccinium (blueberry), Vitis riparia (riverbank grape), and Vitis vinifera (wine or wild grape) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Archasia auriculata | A green species with a very high and rounded pronotum (typically more so than A. belfragei) that is strongly foliaceous, covered with dense pale speckling. The dorsal crest overhangs the head, and the brownish edge to the crest is broken by scattered pale spots, both features characteristic of this species. The head is smooth and sparingly pubescent, while the pronotum is closely but distinctly punctate and sparsely pubescent. The tegmina is smoky hyaline with darker tips, contrasting with the green pronotum. The underside and legs are a yellowish-brown. Adults are 9- 11 mm long and 4.5-5.0 mm wide with a 6 mm high pronotum. (Kopp & Yonke, 1974) | Scattered records across the state, very uncommon. Seasonal distribution: 9 May-27 August (CTNC) | Water oak (Quercus nigra), black oak (Q. velutina) (CTNC); northern pin oak, blackjack oak, chinquapin oak, pin oak (Kopp & Yonke, 1974); also white oak (Q. alba). Adults have additionally been associated with Castanea dentata (American chestnut), Carya (hickory), Eupatorium (thoroughwart), Q. chapmanii (Chapman oak), Q. falcata (southern red oak), Q. gambelii (Gambel oak), Q. ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak), Q. macrocarpa (bur oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak), Q. stellata (post oak), and Verbena hastata (swamp verbena) (Wallace 2014) | |||||||||
| Carynota mera | A variable grayish-brown species, sometimes with a broad reddish-black triangular band across the middle of the pronotum and a reddish tip to the pronotum; some individuals may have a greenish tint. This species has a noticeably rounded and elevated pronotum, which is finely punctate pubescent. The tegmina is smoky hyaline with prominent veins and a dark brown tip. The head is very distinctly punctate and sparingly pubescent with short white hairs. Above the black eyes are several small black marks. The legs and underside of the body are ferruginous. Adult males are 8.5 mm long and 4 mm wide, while females are 10 mm long and 5 mm wide. (FSCA), (Kopp & Yonke, 1974) Nymphs are brownish in color, with a darker brown thorax and speckling across the body. Click here for a neat image of an adult and nymph together. | Uncommon to locally common with scattered records across the state, largely from the Piedmont. Seasonal distribution: 21 May-late October (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Pecan (Carya illinoiensis), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), butternut (Juglans cinerea), black walnut (Juglans nigra) (Kopp & Yonke, 1974); adults have additionally been found on C. pallida (sand hickory), Quercus alba (white oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak), Tilia americana (American basswood), and Vernonia (ironweed) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Heliria scalaris | A uniform rich brown color; rarely slightly speckled with pale on the face, metapodium, knob, and in a transverse band behind the crest. There is a short white line/mark on the margin below the posterior lobe of the crest. The anterior lobe of the pronotum distinctly overhangs the base of the crest, and the posterior angle of the posterior lobe forms a right or acute angle. Adult females are 9 mm long, with a height of 5 mm. (Kopp & Yonke, 1974) For additional images of this species, see: BG. | Recorded from a couple counties in the Piedmont and mountains. | Carya (hickory), Crataegus (hawthorn), Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Malus (apple), Prunus americana (American plum), Salix (willow) (Wallace 2014). | |||||||||
| Heliria gemma | The dorsal margin of the pronotal crest slopes posteriorly. Males are densely pubescent, and the pronotum is mottled brown with traces of a creamy tooth and posterior stripe. Females are creamy with brown mottling, particularly emphasized on the crest, and there is an oblique stripe in the rear third of the pronotum; the posterior edge of the crest is a creamy yellowish-white. Adult males are 8-9 mm long, female are 11 mm with a width and height of 5.5 mm. (Kopp & Yonke 1974) | Uncommon to rare, recorded from a couple counties in the mountains. | Possibly Populus grandidentata (Wallace 2014) | |||||||||
| Heliria cristata | A very distinctive, stunning species with a double-lobed pronotal crest, characteristic of this species; the anterior lobe of the pronotal crest is distinct, the frontal lobe is higher than the back one and is long, projecting forward at a posterior angle. Adults range in color from grayish-brown to brownish to a light green color and can have a mottled crest pattern. This species has a very broad front of the pronotum, extending well to the side of the eyes. Adult females are 11 mm long and 7 mm wide with a height of 6 mm, males are 10 mm long. (Kopp & Yonke, 1974) For additional pics of this species, see: (BG). | Previously reported from Eastern NC, though not clear where in particular (CTNC). Likely uncommon to rare with two recent sightings from the Piedmont and mountains. | Where oak is present. | Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak) (CTNC); adults have also been found on Celtis occidentalis (common hackberry), Corylus (hazelnut), Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Quercus alba (white oak), Q. palustris (pin oak), Q. stellata (post oak), and Q. velutina (black oak) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Heliria cornutula | A brownish to light green colored species with a broad pronotal crest that is peaked in the front. Adults have a very broad front of the pronotum, extending well to the side of the eyes. For additional pics of this species, see: BG. | Scattered records across the state, primarily from the Piedmont; uncommon. Seasonal distribution: June-15 November (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) (Wallace 2014) | ||||||||
| Telonaca alta | A greenish-brown species with a prominent pronotal crest. The crest itself can vary among individuals, with some specimens having a 'step' or hump on the posterior side of the crest, while other individuals may lack this step completely. The wings are mostly hyaline, with a smoky tip. Adult males are 10 mm long, while females are 10.5 mm (FSCA). For additional images of this species, see: BG. | Rare, recorded from a couple counties in the Coastal Plain; possibly more abundant along the coast. | Coastal forest where oak is present. | Quercus laurifolia, Q. nigra (FSCA); also on Q. laevis (turkey oak), Q. virginiana (live oak) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Telamona tiliae Basswood Treehopper | A dirty grayish-green species that can fade to a dirty yellowish color, mottled with darker reddish-brown markings on the pronotum. Males have a broad and dark oblique fascia broadening from the costa to cover most of the pronotal crest that is definite (there is a broad light stripe on the anterior and posterior margins of the crest), whereas females have a weaker fascia that may only be emphasized on the margin and a more quadrangular pronotal crest. The pronotum is long, acute, with a broad crest, and quadrangular in shape, being inclined posteriorly and sloping anteriorly: the crest is obliquely truncate with the anterior angle roundedly rectangular and the posterior one obtuse with an upright margin that rounds into the rest of the pronotum. Adult females are 10 mm long, 6 mm wide, and 5 mm in height (Kopp & Yonke 1974) For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Uncommon to rare but likely overlooked, recently recorded from a couple counties in the mountains. Likely more abundant where Basswood is present. | Forested areas | Primarily associated with American Basswood (Tilia americana); also Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), White Oak (Quercus alba), Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa), Chinkapin Oak (Q. muehlenbergii), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), and Black Oak (Q. velutina). (Wallace 2014, Kopp & Yonke 1974) | ||||||||
| Telamona reclivata | Females are reddish-brown, with a dark brown posterior tip to the pronotum and a dark brown pronotal band that continues onto the crest. The crest itself is sort of broad and tall in the female. Males are smaller than the female, with a noticeably less pronounced pronotum. Males have a greenish-brown pronotum. Both sexes have a smoky dark tip to the wings. | Uncommon to locally common, scattered records across the state. Seasonal distribution: 2 June-31 August (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest; where White Oak is present. | Quercus alba (CTNC); also Q. rubra (CTGSMNP) and Castanea dentata (American chestnut), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), Populus tremuloides Michx. (quaking aspen), Q. bicolor (swamp white oak), Q. coccinea (scarlet oak), Quercus ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak), Q. macrocarpa (bur oak), Q. montana (chestnut oak), Q. velutina (black oak) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Telamona projecta | An unmistakable species with a distinctive pronotal crest that strongly angles forward, almost resembling a reversed fish fin. The pronotal color is grayish-brown to dark brown with some pale mottling. (Wallace, 2015) | Recorded several times in the Piedmont and mountains, uncommon; likely more present and just infrequently encountered. | Mixed hardwood forest where Quercus (oak) is present. | Nymphs have been found on Quercus alba (white oak) and Q. velutina (black oak), and adults have been found on Q. laurifolia (laurel oak), Q. palustris (pin oak), Q. stellata (post oak), and Vitis vinifera (wine or wild grape) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Telamona monticola | This species usually has a greenish to brown pronotum with scattered with pale yellowish spots. The pronotal crest is [typically] tall and somewhat block-shaped, edged on the top in red; the posterior edge to the crest may be yellow. The pronotal crest may slope downwards more in males than females, and some individuals can have a small crest. The wing tip is a smoky brown, and the wing venation is brown; the rest of the wing is hyaline. The legs are green to brown. Males tend to be smaller than females, being 10 to 11 mm long compared to 11 mm for females (FSCA). | Recorded across the state, uncommon to common. Seasonal distribution: 20 April-18 October (CTNC) | Mixed hardwood forest | Quercus falcata, Q. margarettae, Q. nigra, Q. rubra, Q. stellata, Vitis rotundifolia (CTNC); also on Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) (CTGSMNP) Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory), C. ovata (shagbark hickory), C. pallida (sand hickory), Crataegus (hawthorn), Juglans cinerea (butternut), Nyssa sylvatica (blackgum), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper), Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen), Prunus serotina (black cherry), Quercus alba (white oak) [nymphs on this host], Q. bicolor (swamp white oak) [nymphs], Q. coccinea (scarlet oak) [nymphs], Q. ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak), Q. ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak) [nymphs], Q. imbricaria (shingle oak), Q. macrocarpa (bur oak) [nymphs], Q. marilandica (blackjack oak), Q. montana (chestnut oak) [nymphs], Q. muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak), Q. palustris (pin oak), Q. phellos (willow oak), Q. velutina (black oak) [nymphs], Salix (willow), Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (American black elderberry), Smilax (greenbrier), Tilia (basswood) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Telamona maculata | A reddish-brown species with a broad, tall pronotal crest (almost a plateau shape). The posterior tip of the pronotum is red, followed by a pale brown and then a dark brown, almost black band. The pronotal horns may be reddish as well and extend well to the sides of the rest of the pronotum. The front of the head is pale. | Uncommon to locally common, recorded across the state, primarily from the Piedmont and mountains. Seasonal distribution: 10 May- October (CTNC) | Forest with oak | Carya (hickory), Quercus alba (white oak) [nymphs on this plant], Q. bicolor (swamp white oak), Q. macrocarpa (bur oak), Q. montana (chestnut oak) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Telamona extrema | A large species with a broad, tall, rounded pronotal crest that slightly angles forward. The top of the pronotal crest is edged in red, and the posterior edge is yellow. The pronotum itself is usually a light brown color, but some individuals can have a greenish tint; there may be some light maculations across the pronotum in some specimens as well. The wings have a smoky tip, and the legs are concolorous with the pronotum. Males are 8-9 mm long while females are 9-10 mm (FSCA). Nymphs are pale, mottled with gray and brown, and have a pronounced bulging "knob" on the thorax: 1, FSCA | A somewhat rare to uncommon species, with scattered records from several counties across the state. | Forest with oak | Quercus alba (white oak), Q. ilicifolia [nymphs on this plant], Q. marilandica (blackjack oak), Q. phellos (willow oak), Q. rubra (northern red oak), Q. velutina (black oak) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Telamona dubiosa | A reddish-brown species with a prominent, raised pronotal crest with a sharp angle to the rear. It can have a "dotted" pattern across the pronotum. | Recorded from the Coastal Plain, rare in the state. Seasonal distribution: 21 September-11 October (CTNC) | Quercus alba (CTNC), Q. montana (chestnut oak) (Wallace 2014) | |||||||||
| Telamona decorata | A sexually dimorphic species. This species is grayish-green to reddish-brown overall, with a varied mottled color pattern of light and dark. This pattern is much more pronounced in females, whose crest is a vibrant dark brown to reddish-brown and is block-shaped; the crest coloration contrasts with the paler front and sides of the pronotum, with a curved dark band arching downwards from the crest towards the lateral edge of the pronotum. The tip of the female pronotum is a reddish to reddish-brown color. The male pronotal crest is smaller and not as high compared to other members of this genus and is more of a rounded triangular shape but, like the females, is dark. In both sexes, the trailing edge of the crest is pale. There is frequently some light pale speckling across the front of the pronotum. The tips of the wings are dark with a smoky smudge while the wing venation is pale, lined with dark; the rest of the wings are hyaline. | Recorded from the mountains, with a single [unusual?] record from the Coastal Plain. Seasonal distribution: 19 June-13 September (CTNC) | Montane | Castanea dentata (American chestnut), but largely oaks: Quercus alba, Q. rubra (CTNC); also Q. stellata (CTGSMNP), Populus (cottonwood) [nymphs on this plant], Tilia americana (American basswood), Acer (maple), Carya ovata (shagbark hickory), Q. bicolor (swamp white oak) [nymphs on this plant], Q. coccinea (scarlet oak), Q. ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak), Q. falcata (southern red oak), Q. ilicifolia (bear or scrub oak) [nymphs], Q. macrocarpa (bur oak) [nymphs], Q. montana (chestnut oak), Q. phellos (willow oak), Q. velutina (black oak) [nymphs], and Robinia (locust) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Telamona ampelopsidis Virginia Creeper Treehopper | A sexually dimorphic species with a varied brown color pattern across the pronotum; some individuals are almost black in coloration while others are quite pale. The pronotal crest is prominent and high; in males, the crest tends to be angled downwards more than females, with females having a flatter crest [typically]. Males can also be darker than females. Males are 8 to 9 mm long, females are 10 mm. (FSCA) See here for images of pinned specimens, and here for more images of live specimens. | Recorded from several counties across the state, uncommon to rare. | Where Virginia Creeper is found. | Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), which used to be placed in the genus Ampelopsis, hence the name of this Telamona. | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Stictocephala taurina | A green species with many pale spots scattered all over the pronotum. The horns are prominent but not overly large and may have a dark edge to them. The legs are green. The nymph is typical for this genus, see above. Adults are 7.5 mm long (BG). | Recorded from the mountains and Piedmont. Seasonal distribution: 19 June-18 September (CTNC) | Helianthus sp., Rubus sp., Sambucus canadensis, Smilax sp. (CTNC) | |||||||||
| Stictocephala militaris | A greenish species with prominent horns that are reddish-brown. The pronotum has a reddish ridge, and there is whitish speckling across the pronotum. The eyes can also be red, and the legs are green. Nymphs are green, characteristic of many Ceresine species. They have forward facing spines that become black and white in later instars; the forward facing spines are not present in many other Stictocephala species. | A common species (the most common member of the genus in the state), recorded mainly from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Seasonal distribution: 19 June-16 October (CTNC) | Has been found in brushy, grassy habitat near mixed hardwood and pine forest. | Cercis canadensis, Prunus serotina (CTNC); sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) | ||||||||
| Stictocephala lutea | A hornless member of this genus with a mostly green body. The pronotal ridge can have a red tint to it, and there may be white speckling across the pronotum. The wings have a smoky tinge to the tip. This species is similar in appearance to Spissistilus festinus, but can be differentiated a couple ways. First, the pronotum of lutea is not as high as that of S. festinus, and the lateral carina (the lateral ridges on the front of the pronotum) are not as distinct as in festinus (pers. comm. M. S. Wallace). Additionally, the legs of S. lutea are a rusty brown color, while those of S. festinus are greenish. Males are 6 to 7 mm long, while females are 7 mm (FSCA). | Uncommon to locally common, recorded across the state. Seasonal distribution: 24 February-16 September (CTNC) | Mixed forest habitat, where its plant associates are. | Quercus falcata (CTNC); also, Melilotus and Solidago; and from Q. velutina (CTGSMNP). Recently reported from Salix species. | ||||||||
| Stictocephala diceros Two-horned Treehopper | A very distinctive looking member of this genus with prominent pubescence (hair) on the front of the pronotum (characteristic of this species); the front of the pronotum is yellowish with numerous scattered brown markings. The pronotum is dark brown with transverse bands of yellowish white; sometimes the bands do not transverse all the way across the pronotum, with pale patches on the sides of the pronotum instead, and the brown pattern can vary among individuals. The humeral horns are stout and blunt, and the legs vary from light to dark brown; the underside of the body is a very dark brown. The wings are a smoky to dark brown hyaline. Adults are 8 to 9 mm long, with females larger than males; the width between the humeral horns is 5.5 mm. (Kopp & Yonke, 1973) For more images of this species, see: BG. | Recorded from the mountains and Piedmont. Seasonal distribution: 8 June-6 October (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Primarily American Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) (CTNC); also reported elsewhere from Bidens sp., Carya, Helianthus, Quercus, Robinia (black locust), sycamore, American elm, Rubus, Solidago, Vitis, sweetclover, butternut, nettle, raspberry, Ambrosia sp., bull thistle, dogbane, hazel, wild hemp, sunflower (FSCA), (Kopp & Yonke, 1973) | ||||||||
| Stictocephala brevitylus | A greenish species with prominent horns and light speckling across the pronotum. The tips of the horns and the ridge of the pronotum are reddish. The key characteristics of this species are the dark, reddish-brown legs and the black ventral sides of the thorax; this helps separate it from most other species in this genus that look similar. Females are 8-9 mm long, while males are 7-8 mm. | Seasonal distribution: 5 April-2 July (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Aster sp., Ceanothus sp., Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Helianthus sp., Morus sp., Quercus falcata, Robinia pseudoacacia, Rubus argutus, Sarracenia flava, Smilax sp., Solanum tuberosum, Vaccinium sp., Vitis sp. (CTNC); also on Eupatorium capillifolium, Gleditsia triacanthos, Ostrya virginiana, Sambucus canadensis (CTGSMNP) | ||||||||
| Thelia bimaculata Locust Treehopper | This species has a pronounced horn that is angled upward. Adult males are a deep chocolate-brown to black with a broad yellow blotch on both sides of the pronotum; the head is also yellowish. Females resemble the males, but have a faded or aged look to them: the yellow patch is still present, contrasting with the rest of the grayish pronotum, but it appears dirty rather than the clean, sharp colors present on the male. In both sexes, the tegmina is hyaline with smoky apices; the undersurface of the of the body is gray-brown and pubescent, darker in males. Adult females are 11 mm long, not counting the horn, while males are slightly smaller and less robust. (Kopp & Yonke, 1974) Nymphs are dark and have a row of small spines down the back of the abdomen, and a small but noticeable forward-facing horn on the top of the thorax. For more images of this species, see: BG. | Primarily found in the mountains where it can be common, with several records from the Piedmont. Seasonal distribution: 10 June-19 October (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest; where Black Locusts are present. It tends to prefer younger Black Locust, especially trees in more direct sunlight, typically avoiding trees in dense forest (BG). | Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) (CTNC); typically only found on this plant, but can sometimes be found resting on other plant species such as Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Gleditsia triacanthos (honeylocust), Sambucus (elderberry), Salix nigra (black willow) (Wallace 2014). | ||||||||
| Hadrophallus bubalus | A greenish treehopper with prominent pale, whitish speckling across a mostly green pronotum with yellow edges and brown tips. There is a prominent curve to the pronotum, and the pronotum itself is covered with dense, noticeable white pubescence (hair); this is a key characteristic. The body itself is also green; note that the color can fade in old specimens, as in the pinned individual above. The legs are typically a dark brown color, though some individuals can have green legs. For more images of this species, see: BG. | Scattered records across the Piedmont and mountains, seems to be more of a montane species. Seasonal distribution: 3 June-29 August (CTNC) | Forested areas | |||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Tortistilus abnorma | The pronotum tends to be highly arched in this species, with the sides densely spotted with white. The pregenital sternite of the female has a broad V-shaped notch in the center of the posterior margin. Adult males are 7.2 mm long and 3.8 mm wide across the horns, while females are 7.5 mm and 4.2 mm across the horns (Caldwell, 1949). Additionally, the pronotum is not pubescent and anteriorly is somewhat tall; overall, it has a large appearance. The reddish to red-brown legs are also diagnostic for this species. For more images of this species, see: BG. | Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and mountains; uncommon to rare, but likely underreported due to misidentifications with Hadrophallus bubalus. | Forested areas | Quercus sp. (CTGSMNP) | ||||||||
| Tortistilus lateralis | Adults are green, with a curved, hornless and crest-less pronotum; the pronotum is not pubescent. There are bold lateral pale lines running across the pronotum lengthwise, and the legs are a pale grayish color. The eyes are mottled black and yellow. The wings are hyaline, with broad wing cells and yellowish-brown venation. Females are 9 mm long, while males are 8-8.5 mm long. (Funkhouser, 1936) | Recorded from a few counties in the Coastal Plain; uncommon to rare. | Coastal | Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) (FSCA) | ||||||||
| Tortistilus inermis | Yellowish-green to green overall with scattered white spots across the pronotum. The pronotal crest is quite high, higher than the similiar S. festinus and S. lutea. The legs are dark. See here for images of adults: 1, 2. | A single record from the Piedmont and mountains, rare. | ||||||||||
| Stictolobus minutus | A hornless, brownish species with white speckling on the front of the pronotum. There are two pale lines following the ridge and edge on each side of the pronotum. Adults are 4.6 mm long. | Rare, reported from a couple counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) (CTNC) | |||||||||
| Microcentrus caryae Hickory Stegaspidine Treehopper | A dark gray to blackish species, sometimes with rusty brown posterior tips of the wings and brown venation near the tips; some individuals can appear rusty brown or quite pale. The pronotum itself is small and noticeably rounded, with a bulging appearance. The key characteristic for this species is the lack of horns/projections that are found in M. perditus. Nymphs are distinctively flat in appearance, with legs angled outwards on the sides. The abdomen and thorax of nymphs are broad, and color can range from rusty to gray. | Uncommon, scattered records across the state. Seasonal distribution: 7 May-4 December (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest. | Carya illinoinensis, Carya sp. (CTNC) | ||||||||
| Arundanus proprius | This species has a strongly produced, angled vertex with a bold pattern. The vertex margin is white, bordered below by a uniform black band and above by a series of black spots: there are three large triangular black spots separated from one another on either side of the vertex, with the central pair the largest. The vertex is slightly wider between the eyes than the median length. The male subgenital plates are long and narrow, bluntly pointed and divergent from one another. Adults are around 4.5 mm long (DeLong 1941, DeLong 1948). Additionally, the wings have some dark spots in wing cells, particularly one of the apical cells in males and in the claval area for females. Females, previously unknown for this species, have a pregenital sternite that has a slightly defined median tooth along the posterior margin; otherwise, the posterior margin is relatively straight. Nymphs are mottled orange/brown and white, and show black markings on the vertex that are similar to the those on the adults. For diagrams of this species, see: 3I. For more images of the species, see: BG. | Rare, recorded from a single county in the low mountains; probably found elsewhere in the western part of the state, at least in the mountains. | Moist areas where the host plant grows. | Cane/native bamboo (Arundinaria tecta) | ||||||||
| Exitianus exitiosus Gray Lawn Leafhopper | A distinctive leafhopper that is a pale brown to grayish/silver color overall. There are black spots on the head and edge of the thorax, as well as a thin brown transverse band across the head; these marks are characteristic for this species. There are also two black triangles in the upper corners of the scutellum and a third, smaller triangle between the two larger ones. The wings are clear to silvery white with distinct, contrasting brown venation. The wings also typically extend slightly past the abdomen (BG). Legs are reddish in color. Nymphs are light brown overall but show the characteristic head markings found in the adults. | A common species, recorded across the state with a majority of records from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Any grassy, field-type habitat, including forest edges. | Turfgrasses, etc. This species has been taken from dozens of plants: for a large list of plants, see: DL. | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Agallia constricta Constricted Leafhopper | A species with long, narrow wings. Adults are 3.5 to 4.0 mm long roughly. It differs from the similar A. quadripunctata in having slender wings, sometimes lacking the two dark spots on the pronotum (A. quadripunctata tends to have pronotal spots but they can sometimes appear faint or not present at all) and having a slightly different shaped pronotum. When viewing the underside, females show a narrow, apically truncate pregenital sternite characteristic of this species (BG). A. constricta is typically light brownish but can also appear fairly dark (typically males) with defined wing venation; while males are typically dark, they can on occasion appear quite pale. The female pregenital sternite is somewhat truncated with rounded apical margins; it extends OVER the base of the genitalia rather than stopping near the base as in quadripunctata. The male plates are long and slender (longer than wide) and are tapered in appearance; they get gradually less wide towards the apex. Nymphs are variable in color but show the 'ear tufts' characteristic of this genus: probable nymph. (DeLong 1948), (Oman 1933) | A common species, recorded across the state in a variety of habitats; the most common Agalline hopper in North Carolina. | A very widespread species, found in grassy, field-type habitat. Also common on some lawns. | Festuca grass, clover, Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), Ambrosia, Helianthus, Impatiens, Medicago, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Gossypium, Cynodon, Lolium, Paspalum notatum, Sorghum halepense, Sorghum sudax, Triticum, Fragaria, Populus, Salix DL. A legume feeder. | ||||||||
| Agallia quadripunctata Four-spotted Clover Leafhopper | This species is stout and robust in appearance and has short wings that are wider than those in the very common A. constricta: short and wide vs. long and slender. Adults range in color from light brown to fuscous to dark brown (but not necessarily black) with pale wing venation; males are much darker than females. There are four spots on the front of the body: two on the head and two dark ones on the pronotum (BG). Individuals have variable body color, ranging from light to dark brown. Adults are 3 to 4 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. The female pregenital sternite is truncate without any emarginations. The male plates are small and acutely angled, with convex lateral margins. (DeLong 1948, Oman 1933) Nymphs are brown and have small 'ear-tufts' above the eyes, characteristic of Agallia nymphs. | Seemingly most abundant in the mountains, but recorded across the state. | Grassy, brushy field-type habitat, including weedy areas and agricultural fields (BG). | Usually on legumes, like clover, and has been found on Liliaceae. Also recorded from Asclepias and Rubus (DL). | ||||||||
| Clastoptera octonotata | This colorful species has 8 brown spots, 4 on the head and 4 on the anterior border of the pronotum (BG). This species typically has a reddish body with black markings, though sometimes individuals have wings that lack much of the red color and are instead blackish. There is a bold, jagged white line across the middle of the back that forms an "M" when viewed from above. The scutellum is tan to reddish in color, and the head is whitish with a pale, concolorous face. There is also a bold, dark red line across the white pronotum. Legs are a dark red color. This species creates elongated, dense spittle masses on the host plant. Young nymphs are pale, with a whitish abdomen and thorax and a yellowish head. There is some yellowish and reddish-pink tinting to the abdomen. Older instars have blackish sides to the thorax and head and blackish wing buds, contrasting with the whitish body. | This species has been recorded from across the state and is most abundant in the Piedmont, though possibly more abundant in the right habitat. | This species has been recorded in the state from open, mixed hardwood forest. | Muscadine grapevine - Vitis rotundifolia (BG) | ||||||||
| Clastoptera obtusa Alder Spittlebug | A highly variable species ranging in color from brown to almost black. The facial features are the only completely defining characteristics of this species, as the upper half of the face is pale while the lower half is dark brown to black (interestingly, this individual has part of the face pale below the black). The head is typically pale, almost a grayish white, with several bands, usually an orange or reddish color. The body itself has a whitish band that goes across the wings, forming an upside down "V" when viewed from above. Males are 3.6-4.7 mm long while females are 4.0-5.2 mm long (BG). The nymph is pale with dark legs and a dark face. | Uncommon to common, with a majority of records in the mountains and Piedmont where it can be locally abundant. Probably more abundant in the right habitat with host plants. | This species has been recorded recently from mixed hardwood forest and a pine forest with lots of shrubby vegetation. | C. obtusa has been found on over two dozen different deciduous trees and shrubs, including alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), hazelnut (Corylus), hophornbeam (Ostrya), and walnut (Juglans) (BG). This species has also been found on Solidago, Tilia americana, and Acer saccharinum (DL). | ||||||||
| Graphocephala hieroglyphica | A variable species, ranging in color from grayish-green or light blue to reddish-pink. The body and wings tend to be concolorous, and the wing venation is typically blackish though it can be reddish and appear as if the red color is bleeding into the wing cells. There are bold black lines on the wings, and black markings on the corners of an otherwise yellowish scutellum. The head and pronotum are concolorous with the base wing color but have black markings. The head has complex, bold, black and symmetrical markings on either side of a pale, unmarked midline; these markings are characteristic of this species. The female pregenital sternite has a truncated, convex triangular projection and is more than twice as long as the preceding sternite; it extends outwards. Male subgenital plates are long and triangular. Adults are 6.0-7.0 mm long. (Delong 1960) A distinctive color form, var. dolobrata, is a very dark blue to blackish color with scattered pale markings. The extent of dark coloration can vary among individuals, with the head pattern characteristic of this species easy to discern in some specimens, while in others the head can appear more or less a solid bluish-black color with a pale midline. The clavus of the wings tends to appear as a bold, thick pale yellowish to white line that contrasts with the rest of the wing color; the costal margin can also be pale. The scutellum is similarly colored to other color forms of this species. Adult males are 5.5-5.7 mm long, while females are 6.0-6.4 mm. (Nielson, 1968) Another distinctive form, var. atra is even darker than dolobrata individuals. It is an almost entirely uniform bluish-black color. This form could be confused with very dark forms of Tylozygus geometricus, if both were to occur in North Carolina [right now at least the dark form of T. geometricus is likely relegated to Florida]. However, note the difference in the shape of the body, particularly the head. The nymphs of this species are fairly similar to those of G. gothica; location can probably distinguish species for now, and it appears that the nymphs of gothica have darker-brown sides of the body. | Uncommon to rare; recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and the mountains, seemingly most abundant in the former region. | Has been found in grassy, field-like habitat as well as wet depressions. | G. hieroglyphica: Willow (Salix sp.) (DeLong 1948) Var. dolobrata: Willow (Salix longifolia, S. amygdaloides) and poplar (Populus monilfera); has also been found on broadleaf milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) (Nielson, 1968) | ||||||||
| Amphigonalia gothica | A pinkish-brown species, distinctive in coloration among hoppers in the region; however, there can be slight variation in coloration and some individuals can range in color from yellowish to grayish-green. There is an "M" or omega-shaped dark brown to black mark on the top of the head, between the eyes, that is distinctive for this species; there is also a small dark spot at the apex of the head (which G. hieroglyphica lacks). Some individuals though can have head markings that are not very bold. This vertex of this species is slightly narrower and more pointed than in G. hieroglyphica. The wings tends to be concolorous with the rest of the body; sometimes some cells are darker than the venation. The female pregenital sternite has a truncated, convex triangular projection and is more than twice as long as the preceding sternite; it extends outwards. Male subgenital plates are long and triangular. Adults are 5.5-6.0 mm long. (DeLong 1960) Nymphs are mostly pale in coloration with dark-brown to blackish bands running the entire length of the side of the body; the eyes are also mostly black with some white speckling. For more images of this species, see BG. | Uncommon; some old collection records and a couple recent from the mountains (low and high mountains); probably more abundant in this region. | Shrubby, grassy, vegetated, open montane areas | Willow (Salix sp.)? (DeLong 1948) | ||||||||
| Agallia lingulata | A small and robust dark species that is variable in coloration. Males range in color from dark brown to nearly black. There are typically a pair of large black spots on the anterior margin of the vertex that are surrounded by a pale ring, and a distinctive and characteristic pair of large black spots on the top of the pronotum; these pronotal spots are also surrounded by a contrasting pale ring. The edge all around the eyes is pale, while the disk of the face is dark brown; the clypeus and lorae have a dark discal area too. The antennal sockets are black, while the basal segment of the antennae is pale (the rest is blackish). The scutellum is black, with two whitish maculations on the lateral margins near the apex. The elytra is smoky, dark brown, and the wing venation is pale to dark with some slight indication of pale nervures. Females are much lighter than males, more similar in coloration to Agallia quadripunctata, with four large black spots. The vertex is almost uniform in length and width, and the pronotum is about 2.5 times wider than long. The pregenital sternite on females is very broad and truncate, with a thin median process extending downwards. Male subgenital plates are nearly triangular, with the lateral margins slightly concave. Adult males are up to 3.6 mm long, while females are up to 3.75 mm. (Olsen 1922, Oman 1933) | Grassy areas | ||||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Agallia deleta | A distinctive small, reddish-brown to blackish-brown member of this genus with a small head; smaller than all Agallias except A. lingulata. Adults lack the head spots found on other Agallia species and are about 2.5-3mm in length. Males however, as in other Agallia, can be quite dark and appear almost black in color; this species also lacks bold, pale wing venation that other Agallias have. The female pregenital sternite has a slightly concave posterior margin with a very small tooth in the middle; otherwise it appears mostly truncate. The male plates are rather long and broad, tapering towards the apex. (DeLong 1948, Oman 1933) For images of specimens, see: 3I. | An uncommon to locally common species in the state, infrequently encountered. Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Found in grassy, field-type habitat; has also been found on lawns. | Festuca lawn grass, clover, weeds, tall native grass, etc. | ||||||||
| Agalliopsis ancistra | Typically a greenish species, with the rear of the wings fading to a brownish tint; coloration does range to tawny and brownish, with some extreme atypical individuals quite dark/blackish. The face and eyes can be reddish in color, and there is a 'double-mark' on the top of the wings where the green color meets the brown. In addition, the scutellum is usually yellow with two small black triangles in each top corner (sometimes the scutellum is almost completely black in some individuals). Lastly, there are 8 dots on the body; 2 on the pronotum and 6 on the face (3 next to each eye). Some individuals can be brownish in color but still retain the small pronotal spots with a pronotum that is not excessively bulging. These males have the pronotum entirely fuscous except for pale posterior and lateral borders and pale areas directly adjacent to the midline; these individuals tend to have fuscous to smoky wings with contrasting broadly pale veins and the clavus and on the disc. Females have a pregenital sternite that is deeply concave, with a deep U-shaped emargination from the base; the sternite is often brown fuscous, either basally or entirely. Adult males are 3.5- 4.0 mm long, while females are 4.0- 4.3 mm. (Oman 1970) For more images of this species showing variation, see: (BG). | This species has been recorded across the state, where it can be locally abundant; possibly more abundant in the right habitat. | Recorded in the state from grassy, shrubby habitat and near forest edge, as well as spruce forest in the mountains. | |||||||||
| Agalliopsis novella | Generally light brown or yellowish-green to nearly black in color, but can be extremely variable; males are usually darker than females. In NC, individuals have tended to have a mostly blackish body, with dark wings and a dark pronotum; this is reported by Oman (1970) as a frequently found color form. Some individuals have a mostly black scutellum and pronotum while others show more yellow; in these paler individuals, there is a median stripe on the pronotum. The legs and head/face are usually a bold yellow, contrasting with the blackish body, but can be a brownish color too in some specimens. There are six black dots on the yellow face: two above each eye and one below the upper two dots, near the center of the face. Some of the wing venation is also yellow, and the underside of the abdomen is a blackish yellow. Females have a pregenital sternite that is deeply concave, with a deep U-shaped emargination from the base. Male genitalia description is as follows: "valve short, emarginate posteriorly; plates semi-tubular, bluntly rounded at apexes, and scarcely covering the opening of the large genital chamber" (DeLong 1948), distinctive and characteristic of this species; essentially, the male visual genitalia is short and squat without any notable emarginations. Adult males are 3.3- 3.5 mm long while females are 3.75- 4.0 mm. (Oman 1970) | Recorded from the mountains and Piedmont where it seems to be uncommon but can be locally common; probably more abundant in the right habitat. | This species has been found in open mixed hardwood forest as well as grassy, montane meadows | Potato, Clover; common on herbaceous vegetation. A. novella has been known to transmit the Potato yellow dwarf virus (Nucleorhabdovirus) and therefore can affect potato crops. In addition, it is considered to be the most important vectors of clover club leaf virus and one of the most important vectors of wound tumor virus in the country. It is the only species of Agalliopsis that is a vector (A. novella). | ||||||||
| Agalliopsis cervina | A very distinctively marked species in this genus. A brownish or greenish-brown species with a bold white crossband across the wings, varying in width and extent among individuals. The pronotum and head can also be pale as well. There are typically four bold black spots on the edge of the pronotum and the edge of the head, and the eyes also overlap/cover the edge of the pronotum. Adults are around 4.5 mm long (Oman, 1935). | Seemingly uncommon, but possibly more abundant in the right habitat and under collected. | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest and in grassy vegetation near montane forest habitat; also in maritime shrub. | Quercus sp. (Oman, 1935) | ||||||||
| Agalliopsis peneoculata | This species is almost entirely brown, sometimes with a darker smoky band transversing the middle of the wings. Unlike cervina, it lacks a pale band and the pronotum is brown rather than pale. The vertex is shorter in the middle than next to the eyes. There is usually a bold dark spot on either side of a dark pronotal midline, a smaller spot in the lateral corner, and an even smaller pair of spots near the apex of the pronotum. The scutellum also tends to have a dark apex and dark lateral triangles. The female pregenital sternite is quite distinctive, being truncate rather than concave in shape; the sternite has the posterior margin broad and slightly convex, with a straight edge. Male subgenital plates are long, with the lateral margins concave on the basal two-thirds and the tips bluntly rounded. Adults are 4.0-4.5 mm long. (DeLong, 1948) For images of a few specimens, see: BOLD. For images of live individuals, see: BG. | Rare, known from a single county in the Coastal Plain. | Possibly feeds on elder (Sambucus sp.) (Beirne, 1956); American cranberry bush (Chandler & Hamilton, 2017) | |||||||||
| Japananus hyalinus Japanese Maple Leafhopper | A distinctive looking leafhopper. Adults have transparent wings, which can have a bluish, yellowish, or white tint. The wings typically have two to three transverse rufousy bands across the wings, though the bands might not be as apparent in some paler individuals and instead will be replaced by large dots. The wing venation typically is reddish. The head is distinctly pointed, and both the thorax and head are yellowish-green. Some individuals can show a grayish head and wing bands. Nymphs are also distinctive: they resemble Scaphytopius nymphs shape wise, but Japanese Maple nymphs have a much longer head and tail (BG). Nymphs have a pale yellowish-green body with a reddish-tipped abdomen. See here for diagrams of this species: 3I. | A locally common species across the state, most common in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Woodlands, mixed hardwood forests, shrubby areas, forest edge, open woodlands, etc. | Maples, both native and non-native: Acer palmatum (Japanese maple), Acer circinatum, Acer rubrum (red maple), etc. (DL) | ||||||||
| Stirellus bicolor | A very distinctive looking leafhopper, distinguished from other species by its very narrow head, with the eyes separated only by their own width (BG). This species is highly variable in color, with several different forms. The "summer", iridescent form has yellowish-green wings and thorax with noticeable bluish-black patches and lines. The head and thorax have three transverse black bands, and the face is black. However, some "summer" individuals can show faint or non-existent black markings. Other individuals can have a "stressed" appearance, showing the colorful body of the "summer" form but pale, almost transparent wings of the spring brood. A southern form, only occurring in the southern states, resembles the "summer" form except the wings are a solid bluish-black color. The "winter" form is brownish overall with some small black markings on the thorax and head. Depending on the temperature and time of year, some individuals can show traits of both "summer" and "winter" forms. Adult females can be distinguished from males, as they have an abdomen that extends far past the wing tips. Nymphs are variable in coloration, ranging from reddish-brown to purplish to vibrant blue, with yellow eyes and the characteristic pointed, narrow head. For diagrams of the species, see: 3I. | A common and widespread species in the state, especially in the Piedmont and coastal plain, it can be found year-round. Abundance in the mountains is less certain. | Grassy, brushy areas such as fields; also forest edge and open forest. | A general grass feeder, including Andropogon spp. (bluestem and broomsedge) (BG). | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Dikraneura angustata | A yellowish to yellowish-green species with a pointed, acute head and long, slender body. The vertex, pronotum, and scutellum are yellowish, with two prominent reddish-orange stripes across the vertex and pronotum; in some individuals, these stripes are yellowish. The wings are bluish-green, a result of the dark color of the abdomen. The face and underside of the body are a dull yellow color. The male subgenital plates are broad at the base, somewhat triangular in shape and tapering into thin, upturned divergent apices. The female pregenital sternite is slightly shorter than it is wide, being rectangular in shape with the central posterior margin embrowned; the posterior margin is also slightly concavely rounded on the sides. Adults are 3.0-3.25 mm long. (Ball & DeLong, 1925) See here for more images of this species: BG. See here for diagrams of the species: 3I. | Recorded from across the state, where it can be uncommon to locally common; likely more abundant in the right habitat. | Grassy, brushy, field-type habitats; lawns included | Grasses? | ||||||||