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

Catonia lunata - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger- note face
pattern
Taxonomy
Family: ACHILIDAE
Taxonomic Author: (Metcalf, 1923)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: This species has a mottled color pattern, with gray, brown, and black wings; there is typically a U-shaped dark narrow band across the middle of the wings. The venation is pale with black spots along their length. The pronotum and vertex are mottled like the wings. The face is bicolored, with the orange-brown base contrasting with a broad white transverse band; the clypeus is also pale. Adults are 4.0-5.6 mm long. (O'Brien, 1971)
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Eastern United States & Ontario (UDEL)
Abundance: Scattered records across the state, uncommon to scarce; possibly more abundant in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been found in grassy, brushy habitat near pines.
Plant Associates: Pinus sp., Quercus sp., Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry, Ericaceae) (UDEL)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: The wing pattern of C. lunata very closely resembles that of the more common C. carolina, so a picture of the face pattern is necessary in distinguishing these two species. The face of lunata is noticeably darker than that of carolina, being orange-brown with a bold, broad white transverse band in the middle; carolina has a paler face lacking highly contrasting colorful bands; instead, there is an incomplete white band across the middle.

This species is also similar to C. pumila, which too has a similar wing color and pattern. However, the frons color and pattern is quite different between the two species. In pumila, the frons is very pale, either being a somewhat uniform color throughout or being light brownish with a pale median transverse band. The frons of lunata is not uniform and the brown is much darker.

Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Catonia lunata No Common Name

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: grassy/brushy/pine habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: grassy/brushy/pine habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: grassy/brushy/pine habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: grassy/brushy/pine habitat