Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

DELPHACIDAE Members:	NC Records
Stenocranus lautus - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: DELPHACIDAE	Subfamily: Stenocraninae
Taxonomic Author: Van Duzee, 1897

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A brownish species with a white median dorsal line. The wing venation toward the tips is dark, varying in width and pattern among individuals (see pics above). This species very closely resembles S. vittatus and in some instances there may not be a way to differentiate between the two. Charles Bartlett notes that he is "not sure that the two can be consistently separated without tails, but there is some coloration difference" (pers. comment). Hamilton (2006) notes that in S. vittatus, the dorsomedial length of the hind tibia is greater than that of the hind tarsus, whereas in S. lautus the lengths are essentially the same. Furthermore, males of S. vittatus are 4.5 mm or longer while females are 5.0 mm or longer, while adults of S. lautus are reported at 5-6 mm in length. See vittatus and lautus for comparisons of pinned specimens. As in S. vittatus, the head is rounded and the face is dark with a pale midline. (UDEL), (Beamer, 1946)

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 Cuba (UDEL)

Abundance: Somewhat common to uncommon, though typically recorded in low numbers. A majority of records come from the Piedmont and mountains.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Plant Associates: Carex lurida, C. cumberlandensis, Cyperus esculentus, Cy. strigosus (Cyperaceae) (UDEL)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: NOTE: As mentioned above, S. lautus and S. vittatus can be very difficult to distinguish from one another. Since lautus is much more common than vittatus, on default individuals that fall in this category can be tentatively identified as lautus. However, having a clear view of the side, showing the hind tibia and tarsus would allow for a proper identification.

S. lautus could also be confused with some individuals of S. brunneus, which typically is darker than lautus. S. brunneus is also typically smaller than lautus, being less than 5 mm in length, listed as 3.5-4.5 mm.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Stenocranus lautus No Common Name
	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: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.7 mm male came to UV light at night, wooded residential area
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.7 mm male came to UV light at night, wooded residential area	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.7 mm male came to UV light at night, wooded residential area
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.7 mm male came to UV light at night, wooded residential area	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140918279
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140918279	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140918279
	Photo by: John Petranka Durham Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: male, photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: male, photographed by K. Kittelberger	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: male, photographed by K. Kittelberger
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 4.8 mm	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 4.8 mm
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: specimen photographed by Kyle Kittelberger; 4.8 mm	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Moore Co. Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf New Hanover Co. Comment: open woodlands, pine dominated
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Moore Co. Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Moore Co. Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and pond
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and pond	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open forest habitat
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught Sweeping

Stenocranus lautus - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Stenocranus lautus No Common Name