Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

MEMBRACIDAE Members:	NC Records
Stictocephala lutea - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: MEMBRACIDAE	Subfamily: Smiliinae	Synonym: Ceresa lutea
Taxonomic Author: (Walker)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A hornless member of this genus with a mostly green body. The pronotal ridge can have a red tint to it, and there may be white speckling across the pronotum. The wings have a smoky tinge to the tip. This species is similar in appearance to Spissistilus festinus, but can be differentiated a couple ways. First, the pronotum of lutea is not as high as that of S. festinus, and the lateral carina (the lateral ridges on the front of the pronotum) are not as distinct as in festinus (pers. comm. M. S. Wallace). Additionally, the legs of S. lutea are a rusty brown color, while those of S. festinus are greenish. Males are 6 to 7 mm long, while females are 7 mm (FSCA).

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: Uncommon, recorded across the state. Seasonal distribution: 24 February-16 September (CTNC)

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Mixed forest habitat, where its plant associates are.

Plant Associates: Quercus falcata (CTNC); also, Melilotus and Solidago; and from Q. velutina (CTGSMNP). Recently reported from Salix species.

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: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Stictocephala lutea No Common Name
	Photo by: Alex Baranowski Washington Co. Comment: we caught a number of Stictocephala lutea at a wetland in Exeter, RI and found in the lab, they will feed on a few Salix species	Photo by: Alex Baranowski Washington Co. Comment: we caught a number of Stictocephala lutea at a wetland in Exeter, RI and found in the lab, they will feed on a few Salix species
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy habitat	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Burke Co. Comment: Attracted to light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment:	Photo by: T. DeSantis Camden Co. Comment: DISW

Stictocephala lutea - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Stictocephala lutea No Common Name