Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CIXIIDAE Members: NC Records

Cixius pini - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger- note pattern
© Kyle Kittelberger- note black face
Taxonomy
Family: CIXIIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A grayish-brown species that is highly variable in coloration with several color forms, typically with zig-zag lines of various darkness cross the wings (varying among individuals, see pics above). Both the thorax and face are unicolorous and dark; the frons (upper part of face) and clypeus (lower part) are similarly colored, typically a dark blackish color but can be variable; the dark frons color is a key characteristic. The legs are a brownish color. Adults range a little larger than 6 mm long. For images of a pinned specimen, see here. Adult males are 5.3-6.0 mm long, while females are 6.0-6.5 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: A very common species found in eastern and central United States and Canada (UDEL)
Abundance: Primarily recorded from the mountains where it can be common, but recorded from a couple counties in the Piedmont. Likely widespread throughout the NC mountains.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Montane
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, Pinus, Picea, and Abies (UDEL)
Behavior:
Comment: This species can be confused with C. nervosus. It is especially important to obtain a view of the underside, as the frons color can differentiate these two species: in pini, the face is typically entirely black, whereas in nervosus the face ranges from having a contrastingly pale clypeus to being entirely light in color. Additionally, males of nervosus have a characteristic hook projection on the anal tube that is easily seen without dissection. Otherwise, there are no reliable external ways to separate the species (C. Bartlett pers. comment)

This species also superficially resembles C. coloepeum; 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 pini No Common Name

Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Ashe Co.
Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger; 5.8 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Ashe Co.
Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger; 5.8 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Ashe Co.
Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger; 5.8 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Ashe Co.
Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger; 5.8 mm		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat and forest edge/interior
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 5.5 mm		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 5.5 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 5.5 mm		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 5.5 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 5.5 mm		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 5.5 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female; 6.3 mm. Probably this species
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female; 6.3 mm. Probably this species		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female; 6.6 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female; 6.6 mm		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female; 6.6 mm
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat and forest edge/interior		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat and forest edge/interior
Photo by: Paul Scharf, Bockhahn
Yancey Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf, Bockhahn
Yancey Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf, Bockhahn
Yancey Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest