Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CIXIIDAE Members:	NC Records
Melanoliarus placitus - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CIXIIDAE	Tribe: Pentastirini
Taxonomic Author: (Van Duzee, 1912)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A robust species with a dark face, head, and thorax, ranging from fuscous to fuscocastaneous/castaneous; there are two pale marks on the face that look more like lines than spots. The carinae of the mesonotum are concolorous in most specimens but orange in others. In typical males, the dark markings on the wing bordering the pronotum usually extend downward through the median area of the wings along the commissure, forming a Y-shape and giving the marking a "key-like" appearance. There is one spot on each wing bordering this dark line, but in bolder individuals there are dark crossveins as well, particularly near the apex of the wings. The costal cell tends to have three weakly developed spots. The wing venation ranges from stramineous (yellowish) to brownish, with most specimens having fairly pale veins. The stigma on each wing is a bold dark brown to black, resulting in a prominent dark costal spot closer to the apex. There is also an uncommon orange color form, with the entirety of the body and wings being an orange-brown color. Females are more variable in wing pattern and are usually darker than males with very fuscous markings that extend across much of the wing. The legs of this species are pale yellowish-brown. Adult males are typically 6.1 to 8.8 mm long, with females ranging as high as 10.7 mm. (Mead & Kramer, 1982; S. Hendrix pers. comments)

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 and Ontario (UDEL)

Abundance: Recorded across most of the state where it is usually common; this is our most abundant and frequently encountered Melanoliarus species in North Carolina.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been found in maritime shrub; also reported from woodland and pine flatwoods. (Mead & Kramer, 1982)

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." (UDEL)

Behavior: Positively phototropic, it can easily be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This may be the most difficult genus of planthoppers, perhaps even hoppers to identify in North Carolina. In the case of M. placitus, Mead & Kramer (1982) note that it is most likely to be confused with M. montanus, a fairly rare species; [as of now] the two can be readily separated by the male terminalia (apical segments of the abdomen) and genitalic processes (see Mead & Kramer, 1982); M. montanus is supposed to be overall darker than placitus as well.

Mead & Kramer note that M. placitus is likely an univoltine (single-brood) species.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Melanoliarus placitus - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Melanoliarus placitus No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Melanoliarus placitus No Common Name
	Photo by: Hunter Phillips, Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Columbus Co. Comment: Numerous individuals of varying color forms seen active on the Lakeshore trail	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Columbus Co. Comment: Numerous individuals of varying color forms seen active on the Lakeshore trail
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Columbus Co. Comment: Numerous individuals of varying color forms seen active on the Lakeshore trail	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Columbus Co. Comment: Numerous individuals of varying color forms seen active on the Lakeshore trail
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Bladen Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Bladen Co. Comment:
	Photo by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Durham Co. Comment: there were two mites attached to it--it was acting sluggish.
	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Durham Co. Comment: there were two mites attached to it--it was acting sluggish.	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: male, 7.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: male, 7.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: male, 7.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: male, 7.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: male, 7.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: male, 7.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: male, 7.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Brunswick Co. Comment: male, 8.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Brunswick Co. Comment: male, 8.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Brunswick Co. Comment: male, 8.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Brunswick Co. Comment: male, 8.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Brunswick Co. Comment: male, 8.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: 8.9 mm, female
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: 8.9 mm, female	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: 8.9 mm, female
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: 8.9 mm, female	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: 8.9 mm, female
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: 8.9 mm, female	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: additional pics by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: additional pics by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Pender Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: photos by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: photos by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/46857977; photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/46857977; photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/46857977; photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/46857977; photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment:	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: Attracted to UV Light	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: Attracted to UV Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Light	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Light	Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI
	Photo by: T. DeSantis Camden Co. Comment:	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment:	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment:	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 7 mm, on brick wall of my house	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 7 mm, on brick wall of my house
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52274725	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52274725
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: grassy area and mixed hardwood forest edge	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Halifax Co. Comment:	Photo by: T. Stimmler Out Of State Co. Comment: UDCC_TCN 00069602rncoll. T. Stimmlerrnfemale
	Photo by: T. Stimmler Out Of State Co. Comment: UDCC_TCN 00069602rncoll. T. Stimmlerrnfemale	Photo by: T. Stimmler Out Of State Co. Comment: UDCC_TCN 00069602rncoll. T. Stimmlerrnfemale
	Photo by: A. Gonzon Out Of State Co. Comment: UDCC_TCN 00003035rncoll. A. Gonzon at blacklightrnmale	Photo by: A. Gonzon Out Of State Co. Comment: UDCC_TCN 00003035rncoll. A. Gonzon at blacklightrnmale
	Photo by: A. Gonzon Out Of State Co. Comment: UDCC_TCN 00003035rncoll. A. Gonzon at blacklightrnmale	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Craven Co. Comment: male
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Craven Co. Comment: male	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 7.6 mm. ID determined via specimen by C. Bartlett
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 7.6 mm. ID determined via specimen by C. Bartlett	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 7.6 mm. ID determined via specimen by C. Bartlett
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 7.6 mm	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 7.6 mm
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 7.6 mm	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 7.6 mm
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male; photos taken by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male; photos taken by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: male 6.9 mm, photographed by K. Kittelberger; collected at UV trap	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: male 7.7 mm, photographed by K. Kittelberger; collected at UV trap
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: male 7.7 mm, photographed by K. Kittelberger; collected at UV trap	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: male 6.9 mm, photographed by K. Kittelberger; collected at UV trap
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: male 6.9 mm, photographed by K. Kittelberger; collected at UV trap	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: male 6.9 mm, photographed by K. Kittelberger; collected at UV trap
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Carteret Co. Comment: dirty, photographed by K. Kittelberger; collected at UV trap	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Carteret Co. Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Carteret Co. Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Carteret Co. Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan, 7.1 mm
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Carteret Co. Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Carteret Co. Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Carteret Co. Comment: maritime shrub; collected by Bo Sullivan	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Gates Co. Comment: specimen collected by B. Bockhahn; 9.07 mm long
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Gates Co. Comment: specimen collected by B. Bockhahn; 9.07 mm long	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Gates Co. Comment: specimen collected by B. Bockhahn
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Gates Co. Comment: specimen collected by B. Bockhahn; 10.7 mm