Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
Scientific Name: Search Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
APHROPHORIDAE Members: NC Records

Lepyronia quadrangularis - Diamondback Spittlebug

Lepyronia quadrangularis
© Kyle Kittelberger- side view; note the v-shaped
mark on the side		Lepyronia quadrangularis
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view; note the
diamond-like pattern on the back		Lepyronia quadrangularis
© Paul Scharf- nymph; note black band
Taxonomy
Family: APHROPHORIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
Description: Typically a brownish spittlebug with two prominent dark (black) bands going across the wings, forming a diamond-shape when viewed from above; some individuals can also be orange in color. Wings have a fine covering of hairs. Adults have a horizontally-shaped, flattened head (noticeable when viewed from the side) which does not strongly slope downwards in the front. In addition, it has long wings that are narrower than in other species of this genus. Adult males are 5.8-7.2 mm long, females are 6.6-8.5 mm. (Hamilton, 1982)

The youngest nymphs are yellowish in coloration while later instars are greenish with a prominent black band. BG

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: One of the most abundant spittlebugs in eastern woodlands, this is a common species of eastern and central North America, recorded as far west as Colorado and as far north as Canada. BG
Abundance: Common and widespread across the state, recorded from the mountains to the coast.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Frequently found in weedy, field-type habitat along forest-edge. BG
Plant Associates: Grasses, shrubs, herbs, and trees. Solidago. Medicago sativa, Quercus falcata (DL)
Behavior: As the name suggests, this species produces spittle, a feature that helps protect the developing nymphs. Eggs are laid between the leaf and main stem of grasses from midsummer to late fall. The nymphs feeds and molts under spittle and hibernates in the egg stage. NW
Comment:
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Lepyronia quadrangularis Diamondback Spittlebug

Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Erin Price-Erwin
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to garage night light. - unid_spittlebug		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to garage night light. - unid_spittlebug
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to garage night light. - unid_spittlebug		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Iredell Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping.
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Avery Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Avery Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: caught in a sweep in marsh dominated by Persicaria, cattails		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-22)		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888757
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888757		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: stuck on a tree band on Quercus phellos
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: F. Williams, S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: dead in Tanglefoot on a tree band		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 6.5 mm male, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 6.5 mm male, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: sweep through low vegetation
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I was pulling up bamboo grass as its going to seed. These bugs were all over and one landed on my arm.		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I was pulling up bamboo grass as its going to seed. These bugs were all over and one landed on my arm.
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 8.8mm		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I found it because of a katydid, was looking for spreadwing damselflies. - unid_planthopper
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I found it because of a katydid, was looking for spreadwing damselflies. - unid_planthopper		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Grassy, open area.
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Floyd Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: Adult along with nymph in spittle.		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn,C Mitchell
Durham Co.
Comment: Nymph, 8 adults also sighted. There was quite a lot of spittle in the area which was also probably this species
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping
Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, Found inside Spittle		Lepyronia quadrangularisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, Found inside spittle