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

Flatormenis proxima - Northern Flatid Planthopper


Flatormenis proxima
© Kyle Kittelberger- note wing shape
Flatormenis proxima
© Kyle Kittelberger
Flatormenis proxima
© Paul Scharf
Flatormenis proxima
© Scott Bolick- nymph, note spots
Taxonomy
Family: FLATIDAESubfamily: FlatinaeSynonym: Anormenis septentrionalis
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
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

Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/285753624
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/285753625
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/282641684
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/272831198
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/272831198
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt
Alleghany Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/223173157
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/223173157
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/223173171
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/223173171
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/214463187
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/160661654
Flatormenis proximaPhoto 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.
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119335983
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119335983
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82934161
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81799989
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80971318
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80944268
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80944274
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547526
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547528
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/79592263 - unid_planthopper
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49511479
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49511479
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50475685
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph with parasite, caught sweeping
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph with parasite, caught sweeping
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52051136
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52744522
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49981099
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63845345
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63845345
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62146128
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62146128
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60954585
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment: On UV sheet
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54073366
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54073320
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32125820
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28705636
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Woodland edge with weeds/shrubs.
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: D. Blatny / J. Nelson
Ashe Co.
Comment: NERI
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Flew across my path in late afternoon.
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Flew across my path in late afternoon.
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Flew across my path in late afternoon.
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: Seen sitting on vegetation along a trail. Mix of goldenrod, Joe Pye, blackberry, etc.
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Salman Abdulali
Pitt Co.
Comment: Observed on a Lantana leaf.
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto 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
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: NYMPH, Caught sweeping
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment:
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Paul Scharf, Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Flatormenis proximaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat