Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Eupteryx flavoscuta - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- note pattern
© Kyle Kittelberger- dark individual
© Kyle Kittelberger- note yellow scutellum
© John Rosenfeld- color variant
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeTribe: TyphlocybiniSubgenus: Eupteryx
Taxonomic Author: (Gillette, 1898)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A dark species with a variable color pattern. The scutellum is a characteristic yellow with dark brown lateral angles; the pronotum is either a uniform dark brown to blackish color or dark with a yellowish-brown disc. The vertex is a dirty yellow to brownish color; the face and underside of the body are a bright yellow. The wings tend to be dark brown to blackish with a greenish-yellow middorsal spot (larger in some individuals) and a broad yellow stripe along the costal margin of the wings, from the base to the apical crossveins. Some individuals however are quite dark and largely lack the yellow middorsal spot. One of the apical cells is also largely white. The abdomen is dark brown dorsally, finely bordered with yellow dividing segments, and is yellow underneath. Adults are 3.5-4.0 mm long. (Christian, 1956)

Nymphs are mostly yellow with a reddish thorax and wing stubs and a white edge to the head.

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 (3I)
Abundance: Scattered records across the state, more common in the mountains; likely more abundant across the state, especially where ferns are present.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been found near mixed hardwood and higher elevation forest- where ferns are present.
Plant Associates: Common on ferns (Polypodiaceae), Pteris aquilina (3I)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Dark individuals of this species could be confused with E. nigra or E. omani; however, note that the scutellum (and sometimes the pronotum) are yellow in flavoscuta; in nigra and omani, the scutellum and pronotum are entirely black.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Eupteryx flavoscuta No Common Name

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: female		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: female
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake 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: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, open area with shrubby vegetation and mixed forest nearby
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, open area with shrubby vegetation and mixed forest nearby		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat