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| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | ||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| 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) | |||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||
| 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). | |||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||
| Telamona tarda | This species has a rather narrow, almost horn-like pronotum which is very atypical for Telamona. Females have narrower, higher pronotal crests than males, whose crest has a much wider, triangular shaped base. This species is greenish-brown, with the crest usually a slightly darker coloration, and there tends to be scattered white speckling across the pronotum. For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Rare, a single record from the mountains but likely more abundant, just undetected. | Unknown | |||||||||
| Xantholobus nitidus | The smallest member of this genus. Adults are finely punctured and polished, with the pronotum very slightly carinate (having a keel-like ridge). The crest is barely distinguished from the rounded surface of the pronotum. The pronotum is brownish (dark brown to black in males), paler anteriorly with a pale tip; the central transverse band is indistinct, but more obvious in females. The head is large, convex, smooth, and finely and closely punctured. The forewing has a brown base; the underside of the body is pale while the legs are whitish. Adult males are 3.0 to 4.0 mm long, while females are 4.0 mm or less; some individuals may reach 5.0 mm. (Kopp) | Scattered records across the state. Seasonal distribution: 17 May-19 June (CTNC) | Unknown | |||||||||
| Stictocephala palmeri | Recorded from the mountains and Piedmont. Seasonal distribution: 21 July-29 September (CTNC) | Carya | ||||||||||
| Ophiderma flavicephala | Females are brown to rufous overall with a pale yellow lateral stripe on each side of the pronotum. Females are densely pubescent with long hairs, and the pronotum gradually slopes downwards. The wings have a broad rufous/brown base and a dark tip. The head is much broader than long and sparingly pubescent with long hairs; there is a small black spot above the ocelli, which are prominent and a brilliant red. The undersurface of the thorax is fuscous, and the abdomen is yellowish. Legs are reddish-brown. Males are slightly smaller than females but much darker, with a black pronotum. The lateral stripes are a bright white on the males, and there is a white transverse band near the rear tip of the abdomen (sometimes this band is broken or incomplete). Males also have heavier pubescence, especially on the anterior part of the pronotum, compared to the female. Adults are between 5.5 and 6.0 mm long. (Kopp, 1973) | Scattered records across the state, uncommon. Seasonal distribution: 23 April-18 June (CTNC) | Has been found near mixed hardwood forest; where oak is present. | Quercus alba, Q. coccinea, Q. falcata, Q. nigra, Q. palustris, Q. phellos, Q. rubra var. ambigua, Q. stellata (CTNC) | ||||||||
| Cyrtolobus rufulus | A somewhat reddish to tan species that can be highly variable in coloration. | Uncommon to rare, recorded from several counties in the southern Coastal Plain. | Has been found in maritime forest. | Sabal palm?? | ||||||||
| Bothriocera cognita | A dark, bold species with fairly dark wings with two main black transverse bands. There are three main clear wing windows: one between the two black bands, and two to the side of the abdomen. There is a diagonal dark line that extends on the outer edge of these last two wing windows, connecting to another dark wing mark that resembles a musical quarter note. This dark 'note' and the rest of the wing pattern, especially the completely embrowned/black clavus of each wing, can help differentiate this species from the similar B. maculata. The body is blackish, and the top of the square-shaped head is typically orange though ranges from light to dark tawny. The middle portion of the dorsal surface of the head is variably darkened, the face is strongly darkened except for the lateral margins. The pronotum is variably embrowned, while the mesonotum is a reddish brown to nearly black; the tegulae are usually dark. Adult males are 4.8-5.5 mm long, females are 5.0-5.8 mm. (Kramer, 1983) For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Recorded throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, with a single record from the mountains; possibly more abundant in the right habitat; uncommon to locally common. | Has been found in open habitat, near mixed hardwood forest. | Nymphs are presumed to be root feeders. Adults have been found to associate with: Spartina (Poaceae, cordgrass), Juncus (Juncaceae, Rush), Cephalanthus occidentalis (Rubiaceae, common buttonbush), and Quercus (Fagaceae, Oak). (UDEL) | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Bothriocera datuna | The ground color of the head and pronotum is tawny, with the middle portion of the dorsal surface of the head varying from unmarked to slightly darkened. The face is darker with its lateral edges pale, and the pronotum and tegulae can be either slightly darkened or not; the mesonotum varies from dark yellowish brown to dark reddish brown. The forewings have a prominent dark transverse band, angled inwards towards the commissure. Adult males are 4.6-5.0 mm long, females are 4.5-5.2 mm. (Kramer, 1983) For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Uncommon to locally common across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, with a single record currently from the mountains. | Nymphs are presumed to be root feeders. (UDEL) | |||||||||
| Bothriocera maculata | A dark species in this genus with a central bold transverse band across the wings that is blackish. There is a network of black lined wing cells near the tip of the wings that gives this species a somewhat distinctive wing pattern. This pattern, in addition to the relatively clear base of the wings above the dark band, outside of a small black tear-shaped mark on the side of each wing, can help differentiate this species from the similar B. cognita whose wing markings are typically much more intense and darker; maculata also only has the clavus embrowned along the inner margin. The body is dark, blackish in color, contrasting with the typically fulvousy orange/tawny color of the square-shaped head. The face is also dark, and the pronotum and tegulae are embrowned or not; the mesonotum is a dark yellowish-brown to dark reddish-brown. The legs are also fulvousy orange. Adult males are 4.2-5.0 mm long, while females are 4.4-5.2 mm. (Kramer, 1983) For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Uncommon, recorded primarily from the Coastal Plain; possibly more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found in grassy habitat. | Nymphs are presumed to be root feeders. Adults have been found to associate with: saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), big cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides), needlegrass rush/black rush (Juncus roemerianus), and dog-fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) (Kramer, 1983) | ||||||||
| Bothriocera drakei | This species has a dark wing pattern with a yellowish tint to the cells. Some of the wing cells, especially at the tip of the wing have dark venation. There is a clear window in between the two main dark bands that transverse the wings, and the window above this clear one is slightly tinted yellow; the transverse patches can vary in darkness, from pale to dark brown. The thorax, head and rest of the body are fulvousy orange to tawny in color, usually unmarked or vaguely darkened on the middle portions of the dorsal surface of the head and face; the mesonotum is tan to dark yellowish brown. The legs are also fulvous. The top of the head is flat and square-shaped, characteristic of this genus. Adult males are 4.1-4.8 mm long, females are 4.5-5.0 mm. (Kramer, 1983) For more pics of this species, see: BG. | Uncommon, recorded primarily from the Coastal Plain; probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found in open mixed hardwood forest and open pine woodland. | Nymphs are presumed to be root feeders. Adults have been found to associate with: wild ferns, Pteridophyta (UDEL) | ||||||||
| 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) UDEL 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). | ||||||||
| Macropsis dixiensis | Males are a deep ferruginous color, with the pronotum having a greenish tint to it. The abdominal sterna is brown while the sides of the thorax, underside of the head, and lateral angles of the scutellum are black. The wings are white with subhyaline areas; the wing venation is bold and prominent. Females are colored similarly to the males but the lateral angles of the scutellum are fuscous rather than black, sometimes paler. The head and pronotum are yellow-brown, with fuscous markings on the side of the body. Adult males are around 4.0 mm long, while females are 4.4-4.6 mm. The nymph of this species is unknown. (Hamilton 1983) | Reported from three counties in the mountains, uncommon to rare; perhaps found elsewhere in this region. | Forested areas with wild plum trees | Wild plums: Prunus angustifolia, P. umbellata (Hamilton 1983) | ||||||||
| Aphrophora gelida Boreal Spittlebug | A striking spittlebug, this species can have a variable color pattern consisting of a combination of red/rufous, black, and white; this pattern can help differentiate this species from the similar Pine_Spittlebug. In addition, the wings are narrower and the head shorter compared to Pine Spittlebug BG. Wings and rest of the body are heavily pitted, characteristic of members of this genus. Males have divergent, finger-like plates. Adult males are 8.5-10.0 mm long, females are 9.2-10.8 mm. (Hamilton, 1982) Nymphs of this species have a bright red abdomen and dark, blackish head. | Uncommon to locally common in North Carolina. This species has been recorded from several counties in the mountains; likely more abundant in the mountains in the right habitat. | High elevation, montane forests | Nymphs have been found on grape vines (Vitis sp.), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), and Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). Adults are general feeders on conifers, including: pines (Pinus sp.), spruces (Picea sp.), tamarack (Larix laricina), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). (Hamilton, 1982) | ||||||||
| Stictolobus borealis | A greenish species, with the pronotal horns and ridge typically reddish. This species is distinctive from other Stictocephala spp. in having the mottled white lined pattern on the pronotum: two white lines originate on the posterior side of each horn, with the ventral line following the ventral margin of the pronotum and the other line following the contour of the crest (forming somewhat of a white arch), before both lines converge and end at the ventral margin of the pronotum anterior to the posterior process. The wings are yellowish apically Adult males are 6.8 mm, females 7.5 mm. (Caldwell, 1949) | Rare, reported from a single county in the Piedmont. | Has been recorded from Ambrosia spp. (Caldwell, 1949) | |||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| 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. See FSCA for more. | Rare, reported from a couple counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. | Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) (CTNC) | |||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||
| Erythridula fumida | This species has a pale yellowish-white body with a red, orange, or brown color pattern. This species is banded, with two noticeable transverse bands across the wings, ranging from being somewhat opaque to uniformly dark and covering most of the wings in a somewhat 'fused' color pattern (the latter resembling some individuals of Erythroneura bistrata). The vertex midline is pale, and the face lacks black spots, with the anteclypeus pale and concolorous with the rest of the face. The pronotum is either dark with pale lateral margins or pale with dark longitudinal stripes (typical of the genus). The mesonotum is completely dark, and the apex is concolorous with the rest of the mesonotum. The underside of the thorax is entirely dark, and the abdomen is dark dorsally. The forewings lack a dark spot on the costal margin or in the apical cells. Adults are 2.7 to 2.9 mm long. (INHS) For more pics of the species, see: BG. | Recorded recently from a single county in the mountains; likely more abundant in this region in the right habitat. | Tilia americana (3I) | |||||||||
| Enchenopa on-halesia Undescribed Enchenopa on Silverbell | 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. | Recently recorded from the mountains, likely more abundant in this region. | Has been found on roadsides near forest edge. | Silverbell (Halesia spp.) | ||||||||
| Enchenopa on-juglans Undescribed Enchenopa on Juglans | 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 distinctive white and black 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. | Scattered records across the state, but likely more abundant throughout the state where Black Walnut occurs. | Has been found in grassy, brushy habitat and mixed hardwood, cypress forest. | Black walnut (Juglans nigra) | ||||||||
| Erythridula aspera | A pale species with a yellow, orange, or red color pattern. The vertex has oblique lateral vittae with a pale midline. The pronotum is either dark with pale lateral margins or dark with two longitudinal orange stripes, concolorous with the wing stripes. The mesonotum varies from entirely pale, pale with dark lateral triangles on the scutellum, or entirely dark brown (note that the brown does not extend under the pronotum). In var. 'kanensis,' the scutellum is a dark brown and the upper apical cell of each wing is a hyaline brown. The anteclypeus is pale and concolorous with the rest of the face, the underside of the thorax is entirely pale; the abdomen is dark dorsally. Adults are 2.8-3.0 mm long. (3i) | Recorded from a few counties in the mountains, possibly more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found in grassy, open habitat near forest; likely prefers areas near birch. | Prunus virginiana, Prunus avium (3i) | ||||||||
| Thionia elliptica | This species varies in color from grayish to brown but is generally yellowish or greenish-tan with brown speckling. It has a characteristic vertex (top of the head) that is concave from the frontal view, with the lateral margins flared prominently, and from the dorsal view, the vertex is wider than long (BG). See here for a nice depiction of the noticeably wider than long vertex. Nymphs exhibit a strong degree of variation in pattern and coloration, ranging from light brown to black in color and typically heavily marked with cream spots, though some individuals have a paler midline; individuals also tend to have red eyes. See W & W 1987 for more information and drawings of the nymphs of T. elliptica. (BG) | Uncommon to locally abundant, no records yet from the Coastal Plain. | Mixed hardwood forest, where oaks are present. | Quercus ilicifolia (bear oak, Fagaceae), Q. marilandica (blackjack oak) (UDEL); nymphs have also been found on red maple and Nyssa sylvatica (tupelo, black gum). | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| Xestocephalus similis | A fairly small brownish leafhopper with patterns similar to other members of this genus. However, there is a distinct clear or pale spot at the base of the middle wing tip cell; the part of the cell near the tip is dark while the base of the cell (pointing towards the head) is clear. This cell pattern is characteristic of this species. In addition, the dark color of the wing tip cells fades to white towards the outer edges of these cells (BG). The head and pronotum are also typically a brownish color, lacking much of the pattern that other species like X. superbus have. | Recent records from the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been found so far in grassy areas with mixed hardwood forest edge near pine forest. | |||||||||
| Erythroneura kanwakae | Red or orange color pattern on an otherwise yellowish-white background. The pattern on each wing is a somewhat continuous reddish-orange zig-zag, with the marks on each wing not really visually connecting with each other along the commissure; the zig-zag through the apical cells is dark gray to blackish. There is a dark spot on the costal margin of each wing, and two spots in the apical cells (this can be tough to see though within the dark band). The vertex has orange parallel submedial lines that are close to one another, with a thin white gap in between, and there is often a lateral branch. The anteclypeus is pale, concolorous with the rest of the face. The pronotum has a Y-shaped yellow to red mark in the middle and a concolorous line on the lateral margins. The mesonotum is entirely pale, with the apex concolorous with the rest of the mesonotum. The thoracic venter has a dark mesosternum, the rest is pale. Adults are 2.9-3.1 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007) | Recorded from a single county in the mountains, probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Swamp Gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum), less frequently on Red Bud (Cercis canadensis) (3I) | |||||||||
| Doleranus longulus | Brownish-yellow, marked with reddish-brown; the chestnut-colored wings have pale venation, outlined with darker infuscations inside each wing cell. The vertex is twice as wide as it is long, with a somewhat rounded, pointed tip. The ocelli are white, connected by a white transverse line along the margin. The pronotum is fulvous, with dark brown markigns on the anterior portion; the scutellum is the same color but has dark lateral triangles. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin depressed, slightly and angularly elevated. The male subgenital plates are rounded with almost parallel-margined tips. Adults are 5-6 mm long. (DeLong, 1948) For some diagrams of this species, see: Dmitriev. | A couple records for the state from the Piedmont, probably more abundant in the right habitat. Metcalf (1967) lists the species for North Carolina but it is unclear from where. | Wooded floodplains, along stream banks, etc. (DeLong, 1948) | Herbaceous plants | ||||||||
| Colladonus brunneus | A sexually dimorphic species. Males are rufousy-brown overall with yellow to white wings veins. The top of the scutellum is marked with a small black band, followed by a bold, distinctive yellowish transverse band across the pronotum. There is a transverse rufous "band" (not as defined as the other bands) across the base of the pronotum and part of the head, with a small black line bordering this band and the rest of the head. Finally, there are two small black marks on the edge of the head. Females resemble the males in color but lack the distinct wing venation and may only have a faint band on the pronotum. (RGC) | Recorded from a few counties in the mountains, likely more abundant and widespread across this region. | Has been found in grassy, brushy habitat surrounded by montane forest, and mixed pine hardwoods. | ? | ||||||||
| Xestocephalus brunneus Brown Xestocephalus | A generally dark species, varying in color from almost black to brown to bluish. It has pale spots at the wing tips and yellowish-brown legs. The face is a warm brown color, and the rest of the underside is dark brown. Adults are 3.0-3.5 mm long. This species is smaller than the very similar X. piceus, which is 4.0 mm long or more: 1. For additional pics of this species, see: BG. | Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, probably more abundant in the right habitat. | Has been recorded in mixed hardwood forest habitats. | Willow, black Locust, honey-locust, walnut; also aspen (Populus spp.), birch and elm (Chandler & Hamilton, 2017) | ||||||||
| 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) | |||||||||
| 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). | 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). | ||||||||
| sciName | description | abundance | habitat | food | ||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||