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

Clastoptera obtusa - Alder Spittlebug


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view; note dark face
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger- darker
individual
© Kyle Kittelberger- paler individual
Taxonomy
Family: CLASTOPTERIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A highly variable species ranging in color from brown to almost black. The facial features are the only completely defining characteristics of this species, as the upper half of the face is pale while the lower half is dark brown to black (interestingly, this individual has part of the face pale below the black). The head is typically pale, almost a grayish white, with several bands, usually an orange or reddish color. The body itself has a whitish band that goes across the wings, forming an upside down "V" when viewed from above. Males are 3.6-4.7 mm long while females are 4.0-5.2 mm long (BG). The nymph is pale with dark legs and a dark face.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Out of State Record(s)
Distribution: An abundant species found throughout most of North America, from warm areas in the Rockies where alder grows to temperate eastern North America (BG).
Abundance: Uncommon, with a majority of records in the mountains and Piedmont where it can be locally abundant. Probably more abundant in the right habitat with host plants.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species has been recorded recently from mixed hardwood forest and a pine forest with lots of shrubby vegetation.
Plant Associates: C. obtusa has been found on over two dozen different deciduous trees and shrubs, including alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), hazelnut (Corylus), hophornbeam (Ostrya), and walnut (Juglans) (BG). This species has also been found on Solidago, Tilia americana, and Acer saccharinum (DL).
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a black light.
Comment:
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera obtusa Alder Spittlebug

Photo by: Michael P. Morales
Cumberland Co.
Comment: xeric, edge of mixed forest on the edge of the Carolina Sandhills		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Found on Smooth Alder. 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Found on Smooth Alder.
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG		Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods. 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53113743
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53113743		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52211845
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52211845		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840418
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840402		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840402
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840402		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: moth sheet
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I’ve lights		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: attracted at night with a light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest; dark individual
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Caldwell Co.
Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Caldwell Co.
Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping; note facial feature
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Caldwell Co.
Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping		Photo by: Bockhahn, Scharf
McDowell Co.
Comment: LAJA - 2014 BioBlitz NYMPH, Found in Spittle of Alder Tree
Photo by: Bockhahn, Scharf
McDowell Co.
Comment: LAJA - 2014 BioBlitz NYMPH, Found in Spittle of Alder Tree		Photo by: Bockhahn, Scharf
McDowell Co.
Comment: LAJA - 2014 BioBlitz NYMPH, Found in Spittle of Alder Tree
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; male		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; male