Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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MEMBRACIDAE Members: NC Records

Enchenopa latipes - Widefooted Treehopper, Eastern Thornhopper



© Kyle Kittelberger- side view

© Kyle Kittelberger- notice the wide feet

© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: MEMBRACIDAESubfamily: MembracinaeSynonym: Campylenchia latipes, Enchenopa rugosa
Taxonomic Author: (Say, 1824)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: The only treehopper in the east with a forward pointing horn; in other horned species, the horn curves upwards. A distinctive looking species, adults are dark in color, ranging in color from reddish brown to dark brown, almost black. The edges of the wings are rufous-colored, and the hind legs are spiny while the front legs are leaf-like, giving the appearance of having wide 'feet'. Females are 9mm long, while males are 7.5mm in length (BG). In females, the horn extends well away from the rest of the body, while in males the horn is much smaller. Nymphs are also distinctive- they have largely green abdomens with a row of dark spines on the top. Depending on age, the thorax and head of the nymphs may range in color from light brown to blackis with gray mottling.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Found throughout the United States and Canada
Abundance: Recorded throughout the state, common in many locations. Seasonal distribution: 4 May-21 November (CTNC)
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in a variety of habitats, including fields and other grassy areas, brushy habitats (especially where Solidago is present) and forest edge.
Plant Associates: Associated with herbaceous plants, especially Asteraceae, goldenrod (Solidago sp.), and Medicago sativa (CTNC)
Behavior: To listen to the male courtship call for this genus, listen here. These courtship calls are not audible to the human ear, and the calls here are produced by recording the substrate vibrations that the treehoppers use to communicate through the plants themselves. The recorded call is then amplified so that it is now audible to human ears. Research has shown that treehoppers use vibrations to attract mates, to announce the discovery of a good feeding site, or to alert a defending mother to the approach of a predator (T.IM) .
Comment: Often tended by ants.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Enchenopa latipes Widefooted Treehopper, Eastern Thornhopper

Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Erin Price-Erwin
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Avery Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: On Solidago (goldenrod)
Photo by: B. Bockhahn, P. Coin
Durham Co.
Comment: Eno River State Park
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy, field-type habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy, field-type habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: Field/forest edge habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: Field/forest edge habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: Field/forest edge habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy vegetation surrounded by forest; very abundant, all nymphs
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy vegetation surrounded by forest; very abundant, all nymphs
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy vegetation surrounded by forest; very abundant, all nymphs
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy vegetation surrounded by forest; very abundant, all nymphs
Photo by: Paul Scharf, B.Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood and pine habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; nymphs and adults
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Orange Co.
Comment: ENRI
Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51728524
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51728524
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51728524
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52744534
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy woodland edge.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy woodland edge.