Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Flexamia pyrops - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Deltocephalinae

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A small, pale brownish leafhopper with a distinctive body. The wings are a pale gray with thin black markings around the wing veins. The head, thorax, and rear part of the wings are a pale brown, almost tan color; the face is stramineous as well, with an interocular line with three or more small, dentate projections from the lower margin (giving a saw-like pattern). The very long head, longer than other members of this genus, is distinctive for this species. The eyes are also a bright red, contrasting with the rest of the body (and hence the name 'pyrops'). The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margin concave in the middle, with an M-shaped notch that has a dark brown to black border. The male genital plates are rounded, narrowing towards rounded apxes. Adult males are 3.6-4.0 mm long, while females are 3.8-4.9 mm. The nymph has the characteristic long head and red eyes found on the adult. There are two broad brown lines running down the length of the body, and the sides of the abdomen have a yellowish tint. (Whitcomb & Hicks 1988) For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser.

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern United States, primarily the Southeast but found as far north as Pennsylvania and Illinois and as far west as Kansas (Whitcomb & Hicks 1988)

Abundance: Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and coastal plain, where it was locally abundant. Probably more abundant in the state 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 and brushy field habitat near forest edge.

Plant Associates: Aristida longespica (three-awned grass/slim-spike/spike needlegrass), Aristida dichotoma, Aristida spp. (Whitcomb & Hicks 1988)

Behavior:

Comment:

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Flexamia pyrops No Common Name
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Stanly Co. Comment: Nymph. Caught sweeping
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/pine tree edge habitat. Many adults and nymphs	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/pine tree edge habitat. Many adults and nymphs
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/pine tree edge habitat. Many adults and nymphs	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/pine tree edge habitat. Many adults and nymphs
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/pine tree edge habitat. Many adults and nymphs

Flexamia pyrops - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Flexamia pyrops No Common Name