Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

MEMBRACIDAE Members:	NC Records
Enchenopa on-cercis - Undescribed Enchenopa on Redbud

Taxonomy

Family: MEMBRACIDAE

Subfamily: Membracinae

Tribe: Membracini

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: 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, reddish-brown 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.

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern and central North America

Abundance: Locally common in the Piedmont where Redbud occurs, likely more abundant throughout the state.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Plant Associates: Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: Recent studies have shown that there are a number of undescribed species within the Enchenopa binotata species complex, with each undescribed species feeding on a specific, different host plant. These host plants include Cercis (redbud), Juglans (walnut), and Viburnum. Adults of the various species cannot be distinguished from one another, so it is imperative to record the host plant that Enchenopa individuals are found on. Some nymphs of this complex are distinctive enough to be identified to species: see here.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Enchenopa on-cercis Undescribed Enchenopa on Redbud
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: HARI - Nymph. Most likely undescribed species that feeds on redbud, may be split out in the future from binotata.
	Photo by: Mike Dunn Chatham Co. Comment: underside of redbud leaf	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: HARI	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Iredell Co. Comment: LANO
	Photo by: Mike Dunn Chatham Co. Comment: underside of redbud leaf

Enchenopa on-cercis - Undescribed Enchenopa on Redbud

Species Photo Gallery for Enchenopa on-cercis Undescribed Enchenopa on Redbud