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

Flatormenis proxima - Northern Flatid Planthopper


© Kyle Kittelberger- note wing shape
© Kyle Kittelberger
© Paul Scharf
© Scott Bolick- nymph, note spots
Taxonomy
Family: FLATIDAESubfamily: FlatinaeSynonym: Anormenis septentrionalis
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF                                                                                  
Description: This species is often greenish in color, though color can vary slightly. The key characteristic for this species is the 90 degree angle to the rear corner of the wings, separating this from the similar Ormenoides venusta. There are two rows of broad, ordered wing (apical) cells at the rear of the wing that are noticeable, also helpful in distinguishing this species. Additionally, F. proxima lacks the orange edge to the wings that is characteristic of O. venusta. The legs are brownish, and the bottom edge of the wings is yellowish.

Young nymphal instars are fairly pale in color with contrasting orange sections on the abdomen and thorax, but older instars can show the greenish color typical of adults as they age. As in the adult, the head of the nymphs is broad and flat, a useful characteristic in distinguishing from the very similar nymphs of Metcalfa pruinosa.

Eggs are deposited in long, narrow whitish rows on the side of vegetation.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Primarily eastern and central North America
Abundance: Common and locally abundant, this species has been primarily recorded across the state.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in grassy, brushy habitat, forest edge, and within mixed hardwood forest.
Plant Associates: Polyphagous: Juglans nigra (Juglandaceae, black walnut), Ostrya virginiana (Betulaceae, hophornbeam), Quercus velutina (Fagaceae, black oak), Ulmus rubra (Ulmaceae, slippery elm), Maclura pomifera (Moraceae, osage orange), Morus rubra (Moraceae, red mulberry), Rumex obtusifolius (bitter dock, Polygonaceae), Phytolacca americana (American pokeweed, Phytolaccaceae), Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree, Magnoliaceae), Asimina triloba (Annonaceae, pawpaw), Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae, sassafras), Liquidambar styraciflua (Hamamelidaceae, sweetgum), Platanus occidentalis (Platanaceae, American sycamore), and 30 more in Wilson & McPhearson (1981). (UDEL)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: F. proxima is known to feed on a variety of ornamental and agricultural plants, and can be slightly economically important for walnut. Flatormenis (esp. proxima) may occur in large numbers, but do little apparent damage to plants and have not been directly implicated in plant disease transmission. (UDEL)
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Flatormenis proxima Northern Flatid Planthopper

Photo by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light 		Photo by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/160661654		Photo by: George Andrews
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Narrow strip of forest between trail and lake with wet soil plants (Alders, etc). Acted like an Emperor butterfly, circling me once, momentarily landing on me, then flew a few feet to the Maple in the photo.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119335983		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119335983
Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82934161		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81799989
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80971318		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80944268
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80944274		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547526
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547528		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79592263 - unid_planthopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49511479		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49511479
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50475685		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph with parasite, caught sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph with parasite, caught sweeping		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52051136
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52744522		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49981099
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63845345
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63845345		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62146128
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62146128		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60954585
Photo by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment: On UV sheet		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54073366
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54073320		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32125820
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28705636		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Woodland edge with weeds/shrubs.
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light
Photo by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: D. Blatny / J. Nelson
Ashe Co.
Comment: NERI
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI		Photo by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Flew across my path in late afternoon.		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Flew across my path in late afternoon.
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Flew across my path in late afternoon.		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: Seen sitting on vegetation along a trail. Mix of goldenrod, Joe Pye, blackberry, etc.
Photo by: Salman Abdulali
Pitt Co.
Comment: Observed on a Lantana leaf.		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Maria de Bruyn
Orange Co.
Comment: Rescued from a rain barrel; the hopper was floating in it and I thought it might be dead but it quickly recovered when I got it out
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: NYMPH, Caught sweeping
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn		Photo by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Paul Scharf, Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat