Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

DELPHACIDAE Members:	NC Records
Pissonotus albovenosus - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: DELPHACIDAE	Subfamily: Delphacinae	Tribe: Delphacini
Taxonomic Author: Osborn, 1935

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google

Description: A fairly distinctive member of this genus, with cream-colored wing venation. The abdomen and thorax are dark with cream tints in areas. Note that there is a bold white band across the base of the frons, above a black postclypeus (lower part of the face); the rest of the face is black with some pale spots. The first antennal segment is also black. While adults are typically brachypterous, they can be macropterous, lacking the characteristic wing venation and tending to have darker bodies. Adult brachypterous males are around 2.29 mm long, while females are around 2.75 mm; macropterous males are around 3.05 mm long while females are around 3.40 mm. (Bartlett & Deitz, 2000)

See here and here for images of a macropterous adult female.

Nymphs are a mottled stramineous to dark brown, with a prominent whitish section on the abdominal segments. Older nymphs have the characteristic dark postclypeus. For a nice set of images showing the life cycle of P. albovenosus with the fourth and fifth nymphal instars and adult stages, see: BG.

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern United States; also Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, and Puerto Rico (UDEL)

Abundance: Found in the Coastal Plain, and from a single county in the Piedmont. Has been found to be present in North Carolina in Distichlis communities from May 11 to November 13, and in Juncus communities in all months except March. (Bartlett & Deitz, 2000)

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Most abundant in coastal tidal marshes, but also found inland.

Plant Associates: Iva frutescens (Jesuit's bark); Lygodesmia grandiflora (largeflower skeletonplant); Borrichia frutescens (bushy seaside tansy/ sea oxeye) (Asteraceae) (UDEL); from Juncus roemerianus and Distichlis spicata in NC salt marshes (Bartlett & Deitz, 2000). Also reported from Aster dumosus (BG).

Behavior:

Comment: Compare this species with the similar P. aphidoides, which has a similar color pattern.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Pissonotus albovenosus No Common Name
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf New Hanover Co. Comment: marsh grass: black needlerush, spartina, etc.; female	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf New Hanover Co. Comment: marsh grass: black needlerush, spartina, etc.; female
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Carteret Co. Comment: macropter, 4.0 mm, female found in spartina; brachypter found in grass	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Carteret Co. Comment: macropter, 4.0 mm, female found in spartina; brachypter found in grass
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Carteret Co. Comment: macropter, 4.0 mm, female found in spartina; brachypter found in grass	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Carteret Co. Comment: macropter, 4.0 mm, female found in spartina; brachypter found in grass
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Carteret Co. Comment: macropter, 4.0 mm, female found in spartina; brachypter found in grass	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Carteret Co. Comment: macropter, 4.0 mm, female found in spartina; brachypter found in grass

Pissonotus albovenosus - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Pissonotus albovenosus No Common Name