Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Paraphlepsius continuus - No Common Name

Note male subgenital plates (L) & female
pregenital sternite (R)

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Deltocephalinae

Tribe: Pendarini

Subgenus: Gamarex

Taxonomic Author: (DeLong, 1938)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A medium-sized, brownish leafhopper. This species has a rounded head margin, not sharply angled towards the face, and the head itself is rounded without a noticeable point. The wings, pronotum, and head are mostly orange to brown in color with small white dots across the body; the wings are densely reticulate. The female pregenital sternite has rounded lateral lobes and a notch in the middle of the posterior margin, causing the margin to resemble a } in shape; there is a small dark border on the sides of the projection. The male subgenital plates are long and triangular. Adult males are 5.5-6.2 mm long, while females are 5.6-7.1 mm. (Hamilton 1975) For diagrams of this species, see: Dmitriev.

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern North America, particularly the Southeast and southern Great Plains, north in southern Canada and south to southern Mexico; also recorded from Cuba and Jamaica. (RGPP)

Abundance: Somewhat common, recorded across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; likely more abundant 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 grassy areas, as well as in or near mixed hardwood forest.

Plant Associates: Sedges (BG)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: NOTE: This species closely resembles P. fuscipennis and is a member of the "continuus group." However, P. fuscipennis is found only in saltwater marsh habitat along the coast and in most instances individuals that resemble the "continuus group" can be assumed to be P. continuus. Additionally, fuscipennis has a slightly produced head, whereas continuus has a completely evenly rounded head. In coastal areas, it would be good to obtain underside pictures of the genitalic features, as well as length measurements.

This species also is closely related to P. abruptus and likewise is a member of the "continuus" group within the subgenus Gamarex. There may be a slight difference between the two species in the shape of the head (in abruptus, the head is slightly produced but rounded, whereas in continuus the head is fairly rounded), and slight differences in the measurements. P. abruptus can at this point likely only be reliably differentiated with an underside picture of the female or dissection of the male genitalia; the males of each species have very slight but distinctive differences in otherwise very similar genitalia.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Paraphlepsius continuus No Common Name
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: female, 6.8 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: female, 6.8 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: female, 6.8 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: female, 6.8 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: female, 6.8 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: female, 6.8 mm	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: female, 6.3 mm; additional pics by K. Kittelberger (specimen darkened over time)
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: female, 6.3 mm; additional pics by K. Kittelberger (specimen darkened over time)	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: female, 6.3 mm; additional pics by K. Kittelberger (specimen darkened over time)
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: female, 6.3 mm	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: female, 6.3 mm
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: female, 6.3 mm	Photo by: Erich Hofmann Craven Co. Comment: female, 6.3 mm
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy/grassy field near hardwoods.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 6.8 mm female, caught during sweep through low vegetation in retention basin
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 6.8 mm female, caught during sweep through low vegetation in retention basin	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 6.8 mm female, caught during sweep through low vegetation in retention basin
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy/grassy field near hardwoods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy/grassy field near hardwoods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy/grassy field near hardwoods.	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open forest habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Vance Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Vance Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment:	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Stanly Co. Comment: attracted to UV Light	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Stanly Co. Comment: attracted to UV Light
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open forest habitat; with P. apicata	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted To Black Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted To Black Light	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Vance Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Orange Co. Comment: grassy, fieldy habitat near two small ponds	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Orange Co. Comment: grassy, fieldy habitat near two small ponds

Paraphlepsius continuus - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Paraphlepsius continuus No Common Name