Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CIXIIDAE Members:	NC Records
Cixius coloepeum - Cloudy-tipped Cixius

Taxonomy

Family: CIXIIDAE	Subfamily: Cixiinae	Tribe: Cixiini
Taxonomic Author: Fitch, 1856

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: Adult males are 4.8-5.7 mm long, while females are 5.0-6.0 mm. The base color of the head and thorax are tawny with the face and pronotum darkened with shades of brown to black. Coloration on the wings can be quite variable. (Kramer 1981) This species superficially resembles Cixius pini in wing pattern. The face tends to be darker in C. pini though compared with C. coloepeum, but an identification may not be possible for some individuals without dissection.

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Distribution: Widespread across North America, ranging from the East Coast as far west as at least the Rocky Mountains (UDEL)

Abundance: Primarily recorded from the mountains, with an old record from the Sandhills. Probably more abundant in the right habitat, especially the mountains.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Plant Associates: "Nymphs of cixiids are subterranean, feeding on roots and possibly fungi. The significance of adult host records is unclear. Many cixiids are presumed to be polyphagous (as adults), most often on woody plants." Adults have been recorded from Gaylussacia (huckleberry, Ericaceae). (UDEL)

Behavior:

Comment: This species superficially resembles C. pini; a species ID may not always be possible for individuals that may represent one of these two species. Charles Bartlett notes "I have tried hard to find a consistent difference between pini and coloepeum - I think there must be - but I have always dissected to be sure" (pers. comment). Cixius can be very difficult to ID.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Cixius coloepeum Cloudy-tipped Cixius 6
	Photo by: C Bartlett & A Gonzon Haywood Co. Comment:	Photo by: C Bartlett & A Gonzon Haywood Co. Comment:
	Photo by: C Bartlett & A Gonzon Haywood Co. Comment:	Photo by: C Bartlett & A Gonzon Haywood Co. Comment:
	Photo by: C Bartlett & A Gonzon Haywood Co. Comment:	Photo by: C Bartlett & A Gonzon Haywood Co. Comment:

Cixius coloepeum - Cloudy-tipped Cixius

Species Photo Gallery for Cixius coloepeum Cloudy-tipped Cixius 6