Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CLASTOPTERIDAE Members:	NC Records
Clastoptera arborina - Red Cedar Spittlebug

Taxonomy

Family: CLASTOPTERIDAE

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A reddish species with a pale zigzag transverse band across the middle of the body, and three bold reddish lines on the head and pronotum. Males can either be paler or darker than females, the latter of which tend to be fairly rufous in color. The rufous color helps set this species apart from other Clastoptera found in North Carolina, in particular C. obtusa. While dark males may resemble C. obtusa, they have more pale patches overall compared to C. obtusa which tend to be uniformly colored except for the white band and pale head; in particular, there tends to be a whitish patch near the base of each wing in both sexes that is a useful identifying mark. This species has a dark band across the face, wider in males, and can show a couple thinner dark bands between the eyes and frons. The area below the wide black band is pale. See here for a view of the face of both sexes, with the male on the bottom. Males are 3.5-3.9 mm long, while females are 3.7-4.1 mm (BG).

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern, central, and southwestern North America (BG)

Abundance: Recorded primarily from the Piedmont but also mountains, possibly 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: Where red-cedar or cypress is present.

Plant Associates: Eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) (DL)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment:

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

See also Habitat Account for General Cedar Woodlands

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera arborina Red Cedar Spittlebug
	Photo by: Solomon Hendrix Wake Co. Comment: attracted to light	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard with near woods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard with near woods.	Photo by: Maria de Bruyn Orange Co. Comment: Landed on my camera as I was walking around; there were several cedars in the vicinity
	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Wake Co. Comment: male	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Wake Co. Comment: male
	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Wake Co. Comment: male	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Wake Co. Comment: female
	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Wake Co. Comment: female	Photo by: David Guzman Wake Co. Comment: attracted to light

Clastoptera arborina - Red Cedar Spittlebug