Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CIXIIDAE Members:	NC Records
Cixius misellus - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CIXIIDAE

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A brownish species with mostly clear wings but variable color pattern among individuals. There is sometimes an uneven dark band across the wings near their base; in other individuals, this band is largely not present and instead there is a dark spot near the base of each wing, on the costal margin of the wing. There is also a dark spot on the costal margin of each wing about a third of the way from the tip. The base color of the head and thorax is tawny, with portions of the head and face darkened with shade of brown to black. The pronotum is less distinctly dark, and sometimes not dark at all. The thorax and underside of the abdomen and thorax are dark. The face is relatively unicolorous, being a darkish color. Adult males are 5.3-7.4 mm long, while females are 5.8-7.9 mm. (Kramer 1981)

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Out of State Record(s)

Distribution: Eastern and central United States, transcontinental in Canada (UDEL)

Abundance: Recorded primarily from the mountains where it is common; also recorded from Wake county in the Piedmont. Likely more abundant in the state, especially in the mountains.

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.

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 found on Abies balsamea and Picea glauca (white spruce), as well as pin cherry in the Smoky Mountains. (Kramer 1981)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species could be confused with other members of this difficult to identify genus, including: C. pini, C. nervosus, and C. stigmatus. Therefore, a species identification may not always be possible.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Cixius misellus No Common Name
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: female	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: female
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: female	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Out Of State Co. Comment: male

Cixius misellus - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Cixius misellus No Common Name