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

Scaphytopius rubellus - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- note reddish color
© Kyle Kittelberger- note coloration
© Kyle Kittelberger- orange individual
© Kyle Kittelberger- variation
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: Deltocephalinae
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A large distinctive reddish (sometimes reddish-orange) member of this genus with variable head shape, ranging from long and sharply pointed to short and stubby. This species can have one of the longest heads in the genus in the state, with only S. latus having a comparable head. The head, pronotum, face, and wings are reddish to reddish-brown; in some individuals, there is also a black cast to the red on the wings and pronotum. Some individuals though are orange rather than reddish, a fulvous color, while others are dark brown to somewhat blackish. The vertex has a pale median line, with pale markings on either side of it; in some individuals there is a bold white line along the crown margin and on the face. The pronotum has five pale longitudinal lines, and the scutellum can be a paler color than the rest of the body. The wings have small black reticulations, and there are some white areolar spots scattered throughout. The male subgenital plates are broad at the base and rather long, triangular overall. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin 'notched' on either side of a rounded median lobe. Adult females are 5.0 mm long, males are around 4.0-4.5 mm. (DeLong 1948), (Hepner 1947)

For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Eastern United States, in particular along the East Coast
Abundance: Scattered records accross the Piedmont and Coastal Plain where it is uncommon, probably more abundant in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been found in mixed hardwood forest habitat.
Plant Associates: Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) (BG); has also been found on American Beautyberry.
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: The reddish-orange color should separate this species from others in the genus, though it could be confused for other Scaphytopius in our area. Also note the pattern across the body and wings, the concavely angled face, and overall shape of rubellus.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for Sweetgum Groves and Forests

Species Photo Gallery for Scaphytopius rubellus No Common Name

Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.8 mm female came to UV light at night		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.8 mm female came to UV light at night
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.8 mm female came to UV light at night		Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022) - unid_planthopper
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022) - unid_planthopper		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120257374
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120257374		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84251090
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84251090		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.6 mm female found indoors
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.6 mm female found indoors		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.6 mm female found indoors
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.6 mm female found indoors		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80308392
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80308392		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78920686		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78920686
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78920686		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: roughly 4.5 mm female, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: roughly 4.5 mm female, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: roughly 4.5 mm female, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: roughly 4.5 mm female, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56116085
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52956800		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: female
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: female		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/45636830
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/45636830		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light - unid_planthopper
Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: near mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: near mixed hardwood forest habitat; head ratio: 1.95 times as long than as wide between the eyes. Male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: near mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: near mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV Light		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV Light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
New Hanover Co.
Comment: open woodlands, pine dominated; males, 4.0 mm, head 2x as long as wide between the eyes		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
New Hanover Co.
Comment: open woodlands, pine dominated; males, 4.0 mm, head 2x as long as wide between the eyes
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
New Hanover Co.
Comment: open woodlands, pine dominated; males, 4.0 mm, head 2x as long as wide between the eyes		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: grassy habitat on mixed hardwood forest edge; note dark brown face
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: grassy habitat on mixed hardwood forest edge		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: grassy habitat on mixed hardwood forest edge; male. Head ratio: 2.0 times as long than as wide between the eyes
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: male, 3.9 mm; head 1.7 times longer than wide		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: male, 3.9 mm; head 1.7 times longer than wide
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: male, 3.9 mm; head 1.7 times longer than wide		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: near mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Stanly Co.
Comment: Attracted to Mercury Vapor Lamp
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat and mixed hardwood, cypress forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat and mixed hardwood, cypress forest
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat and mixed hardwood, cypress forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: open grassy area within mixed hardwood forest habitat
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted To Light		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat