Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CLASTOPTERIDAE Members:	NC Records
Clastoptera obtusa - Alder Spittlebug

Taxonomy

Family: CLASTOPTERIDAE

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
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:

Clastoptera obtusa - Alder Spittlebug

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera obtusa Alder Spittlebug

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