Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

DERBIDAE Members:	NC Records
Cedusa incisa - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: DERBIDAE	Tribe: Cedusini
Taxonomic Author: (Metcalf, 1923)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: Bluish overall with uniformly blue wings, thorax, and head; there is a slight, faint curved row of white spots at the base of wing cells near the tips. The legs are yellowish with black feet, and the abdominal segments seem to be outlined in yellow. The phallus (reproductive claspers) are well-developed and very large in mature individuals (see above); the phallus has a key-like, jagged shape to the opening. See here for the underside of a female, which shows the sternite is yellowish.

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern North America (UDEL)

Abundance: Recorded from the mountains where this species can occur in large numbers, with hundreds to thousands inhabiting fields; probably more abundant throughout the mountains in the right habitat.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been found in a variety of habitats: open forest, field and brushy vegetation, near mixed hardwood forest, etc.

Plant Associates: Derbidae are known or assumed to feed on fungal hyphae as immatures. Adults have been associated with: Betula (birch, Betulaceae) and Andropogon (Poaceae), and have been found in large numbers resting on milkweed and other field vegetation. (UDEL).

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: A majority of Cedusa look very similar externally, appearing bluish overall. The only way to make a positive ID for many of the species at this point is to examine the genitalia of the males. Therefore, a male specimen is necessary for many species' identifications. Detailed, clear photographs of the male underside showing the genitalia can also be helpful, and perhaps the hope is that after observing enough specimens of a particular species, there may be slight external features that can be associated with an ID.

This particular species is closely related to kedusa and therefore has similarly-shaped reproductive claspers; see each respective page to compare images.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Cedusa incisa No Common Name 7
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, field-type habitat; found everywhere, on milkweed and other plants; FEMALE	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn Watauga Co. Comment: Observed on Leaf
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, field-type habitat; found everywhere, on milkweed and other plants; male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, field-type habitat; found everywhere, on milkweed and other plants; male
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest; male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest; male
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest; male

Cedusa incisa - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Cedusa incisa No Common Name 7