Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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DELPHACIDAE Members: NC Records

Pissonotus brunneus - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- note wing pattern
© Kyle Kittelberger- brachypter
© Margarita Lankford- macropter, note dark face
Taxonomy
Family: DELPHACIDAESubfamily: DelphacinaeTribe: Delphacini
Taxonomic Author: Van Duzee, 1897
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A dark, blackish species with pale wing venation (in brachypters) and no spots on the face. There is a thin white line that crosses the face, and the bottom of the clypeus is pale, as are the legs. The first antennal segment is black while the second is a pale brown. Macropterous individuals lack the pale wing venation of brachypters. Adult brachypterous males are around 2.25 mm long, while females are around 2.71 mm; macropterous males are around 3.23 mm long while females are around 3.50 mm. (Bartlett & Deitz, 2000)

Nymphs are largely orange with a darker brown, mottled head.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Eastern and central United States and Canada; also Mexico (UDEL)
Abundance: Recorded from across the state, where it can be uncommon to common.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Mar
Apr
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Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been found in grassy, brushy areas. Commonly found in upland, old-field situations (Bartlett & Deitz, 2000)
Plant Associates: Erigeron quercifolius (oakleaf fleabane), Erigeron sp., Symphyotrichum puniceum (purplestem aster; Asteraceae); Lespedeza sp. (Fabaceae), Agrostis sp. (Poaceae) (UDEL)
Behavior:
Comment: Brachypterous adults are much more common that macropterous individuals. (BG)

Macropterous individuals of brunneus could be confused with P. binotatus macrotpers. However, brunneus lacks the black line on the second antennal segment (segment is pale) and binotatus tends to be quite shiny while brunneus is more dull colored.

Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for General Successional Fields and Forblands

Species Photo Gallery for Pissonotus brunneus No Common Name

Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in a field.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping.
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172255190		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172255190
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83202010
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83202010		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83202010
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83202010		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83202010
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83202010		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: female; ID confirmed via specimen by C. Bartlett
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: female; ID confirmed via specimen by C. Bartlett		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: female; ID confirmed via specimen by C. Bartlett
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy, field-type habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy, field-type habitat
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Watauga Co.
Comment: brushy, field-type habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches