Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Chlorotettix tergatus - No Common Name


© Rob Van Epps- note coloration
© Rob Van Epps
© Solomon Hendrix
© Solomon Hendrix- male (L) & female (R)
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: Pendarini
Taxonomic Author: (Fitch, 1851)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: This species is ochraceous greenish yellow in color, with the forewings brownish subhyaline. The eyes are [usually] dark, and the crown is roundly produced, being slightly longer in the middle than near the eyes. The male subgenital plates are large and broad, with the sides slightly sinuated; the apices are broad, obtuse, and rounded, not pointed like in many other species, giving each plate a trapezoidal appearance. The female pregenital sternite is long, with a broad V-shaped excavation extending half way on the posterior margin toward the base (there does seem to be some slight variation in the shape of the excavation across specimens); the lateral lobes are rounded, and the margin of the excavation is brown. Adult males are 7.1-7.9 mm long, females are 7.3-8.3 mm. (DeLong 1918, DeLong 1948, Cwikla 1988)

For diagrams of the genitalia of this species, see: Dmitriev. For additional images of a male with dissected genitalia, see: BG.

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: Eastern North America (Cwikla 1988)
Abundance: A widespread species, recorded across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; likely more abundant in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Sedgy meadows and other grassy, brushy areas; open woodlands, forest edge
Plant Associates: Cut-rice grass (Leersia oryzoides), tall coarse grass and sedge association
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: NOTE: Chlorotettix is a notriously difficult genus to identify to species visually; a majority of the species are various shades of yellow and green, and many can only be reliably distinguished by looking at genital features. Therefore, it is very important for all Chlorotettix species other than necopinus and tergatus to obtain a picture of the underside.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Chlorotettix tergatus No Common Name

Photo by: Scott Bolick
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female from Massachusetts		Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female from Massachusetts
Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female from Massachusetts		Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male swept from tall grasses; coastal MA
Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male swept from tall grasses; coastal MA		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field. 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.
Photo by: John Rosenfeld
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female		Photo by: John Rosenfeld
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female
Photo by: John Rosenfeld
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Opening in woods. Attracted to black light.
Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: microstygium in clearing among mixed hardwood forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: microstygium in clearing among mixed hardwood forest