Hoppers of North Carolina

Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers

Family (Alpha):

CLASTOPTERIDAE Members:	NC Records
Clastoptera xanthocephala - Sunflower Spittlebug

Taxonomy

Family: CLASTOPTERIDAE
Taxonomic Author: Germar, 1839

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: The smallest member of this genus at around 3 mm long, this is a highly variable species that ranges from black to light brown. This coloration is typically sexually dimorphic, with the males being darker than females. With males, the body is mostly black with the tip of the head being distinctly paler, almost yellowish in color, than the rest of the body. The rear tip of the wings can also appear yellower than the rest of the body. There is a black transverse bar crossing an otherwise pale face (pale above and below the band). Males typically have dark legs. Females tend to be light brown in color from above, sometimes darker, and the underside is all black except for the pale legs and contrastingly pale face, again with a transverse black bar. Both sexes show a dark spot with a white ring around it on the lower rear end of the wings. The fall broad is paler and a chocolate-brown color, though it is marked like the spring brood. Adult males are 2.4-3.0 mm long, females are 3.0-4.7 mm. Nymphs are a pale yellowish color. (Hamilton, 1982)

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Out of State Record(s)

Distribution: A common and widespread species, ranging from the Northeast south to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma (BG).

Abundance: Common and widespread, this species has been recorded across the state. A majority of records come from the coastal plain and eastern Piedmont.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: This species has been recorded recently from grassy fields, pine forest with lots of shrubby vegetation, forest edge, and other brushy habitats.

Plant Associates: Sunflower (Helianthus), annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Chrysanthemum morifolium, Solidago, Croton puntatus, Gleditsia (DL)

Behavior:

Comment: Interesting note on spittlebugs: "Spittlebug nymphs wander away from their spittle masses, and either start new ones, or enter those of other nymphs. Aphrophora nymphs hold the record, of one spittle mass over a foot long containing about 100 individuals!" BG

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Clastoptera xanthocephala - Sunflower Spittlebug

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera xanthocephala Sunflower Spittlebug

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera xanthocephala Sunflower Spittlebug
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/210376366
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in grassy/weedy field.	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: mating pair
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: edge of athletic field	Photo by: Hunter Phillips Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114409949
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114409949	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114410046
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114410095	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114410095
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann; Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment: Clastoptera sp. lacking black band on face. - unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann; Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment: Clastoptera sp. lacking black band on face. - unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Erich Hofmann; Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment: Clastoptera sp. lacking black band on face. - unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: One of numerous Clastoptera sp. found on this plant.	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: One of numerous Clastoptera sp. found on this plant.
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: One of numerous Clastoptera sp. found on this plant.	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93427304
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93427304	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83575343
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83575343	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61131838 - unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60661799
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Dare Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60661799	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59708905
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59708905	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59708910
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60116597	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60116597
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736348	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736348
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736348	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736348
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736348	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736359
	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Durham Co. Comment: a front yard near a house. - unid_treehopper	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Durham Co. Comment: a front yard near a house. - unid_treehopper
	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Durham Co. Comment: a front yard near a house. - unid_treehopper	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49267784
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.6 mm	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.6 mm
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.6 mm	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: captured during sweep of low vegetation
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: captured during sweep of low vegetation	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: captured during sweep of low vegetation
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.5 mm female, caught during sweep of low vegetation on margin of school athletic field	Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.9mm, captured during sweep of grassy area bordering forest	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Weedy patch in open area.	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Rowan Co. Comment: Female. Caught sweepimg
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: grassy, brushy field	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: grassy, brushy field
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: grassy, field type habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy, field-type habitat; a pale specimen
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy, field-type habitat; a pale specimen	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught Sweeping
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Spotted on Plant	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy, field-type habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy, field-type habitat