Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

DERBIDAE Members:	NC Records
Cedusa kedusa - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: DERBIDAE
Taxonomic Author: (McAtee, 1924)

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 the wing cells near the tips, along the apical crossveins; this may not always be present. The legs are yellowish, 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 claw-like, jagged shape to the opening. The lower branch of the subapical process of the male genitalia is bufurcate, sometimes bearing teeth (C. Bartlett pers. comments).

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Transcontinental, found across the United States and Canada (UDEL)

Abundance: A couple records from the mountains and Coastal Plain.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Plant Associates: Derbidae are known or assumed to feed on fungal hyphae as immatures. Adults have been associated with Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore, Platanaceae). (UDEL)

Behavior: Probably 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 incisa 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 kedusa No Common Name
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Ashe Co. Comment: collected by Bo Sullivan; male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Ashe Co. Comment: collected by Bo Sullivan; male
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Ashe Co. Comment: collected by Bo Sullivan; male

Cedusa kedusa - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Cedusa kedusa No Common Name