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

Memnonia flavida - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view; male
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view; male
© Kyle Kittelberger- pale individual, male
© Kyle Kittelberger- pale individual, female
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: Hecalini
Taxonomic Author: (Signoret, 1879)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A greenish, slender species with a flattened, pointed head. There is a thin white line transversing along the margin of the head, pronotum, and edge of the wings, and there is a short white median line extending onto the vertex from the apex. The costal margin of the wings has at least 2 crossveins before the apical cells, as can be seen here, but the visability of this feature depends on lighting, angle and other conditions. There is a black spot at the apex of the clavus and typically another at the apex of the inner apical cell. Males are distinguished by [typically] having fuscous wing tips (characteristic of this species) with pale discs at the base of each apical cell, contrasting with the reddish coloration of the cells. Females have wing tips that are more green than brown, and the abdomen extends past the wing tips, with the pink tip of the ovipositor visible. The head of the female is as long as the midline of the pronotum and is somewhat rounded, whereas the head of the male is distinctly shorter and more pointed. Adult females are 5.4-7.9 mm long, while males are 4.7-5.8 mm. (Hamilton, 2000)

For additional images of this species, see: BG.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Widespread, found throughout eastern North America, east of the Rocky Mountains and north to southernmost Canada (Hamilton, 2000).
Abundance: An uncommon to locally common species with scattered records across the state; probably more abundant in the right habitat, seems especially abundant in the Coastal Plain. This species is reported to occur between March 2 and November 12, likely overwintering in the southern United States. Late-instar nymphs have been recorded May 10-13, July 19-28, September 19, and October 5, indicating at least three broods each year. (Hamilton, 2000)
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Tall grass prairies, other grassy, brushy areas with plant hosts
Plant Associates: A specialist species on native prairie grasses, including bluestem (Andropogon spp.) and Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) (Hamilton, 2000)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: NOTE: There is a similar species, M. leptalea, that possibly could occur along the coast, especially as temperatures continue to warm. This is a primarily Gulf Coast species, found from Florida to Texas but also recorded as far north as Plantersville, South Carolina. It is very similar to M. flavida but often has a more broadly rounded crown, more slender tegmina, and no more than 1 costal crossvein before the apical cells (a key distinguishing feature). Adult females are 5.7-7.0 mm long, males are 4.8-5.5 mm. (Hamilton, 2000)
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for General Successional and Semi-Natural Grasslands

Species Photo Gallery for Memnonia flavida No Common Name

Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Wake Co.
Comment: attracted to light - unid_planthopper		Photo by: Solomon Hendrix
Wake Co.
Comment: attracted to light
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in grassy field. 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.
Photo by: C.R. Bartlett
Warren Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: C.R. Bartlett
Warren Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: C.R. Bartlett
Warren Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: C.R. Bartlett
Warren Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male, 4.8 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male, 4.8 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male, 4.8 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male, 4.8 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male, 4.8 mm		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment: 10 females, 5 males; photographed by K. Kittelberger
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment: 10 females, 5 males		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: female
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: female		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Grassy, weedy area near hardwoods.
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Carteret Co.
Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan, males
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Carteret Co.
Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan, males		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Carteret Co.
Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan, males
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Carteret Co.
Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan, males		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Carteret Co.
Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan
Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: Female. Attracted to white CFL porch light in semi-wooded residential area.		Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: Female. Attracted to white CFL porch light in semi-wooded residential area.
Photo by: Bockhahn, Scharf
Burke Co.
Comment: LAJA - 2014 BioBlitz		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy habitat; males (showing black dots on rear of wing)
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy habitat; males (showing black dots on rear of wing)		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted To Black Light		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted To Black Light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy, field-type habitat near pond edge