Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CIXIIDAE Members: NC Records

Cixius misellus - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger
© Kyle Kittelberger
Taxonomy
Family: CIXIIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
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
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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