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

Clastoptera achatina - Pecan Spittlebug


© Kyle Kittelberger- male, side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- male, note black band across
rear of wings
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger
Taxonomy
Family: CLASTOPTERIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: This species has a distinctive yellow head and back with contrasting brown wings. The pronotum and scutellum are completely yellow, and the yellow continues onto the base of the wings, forming almost a yellow border between the pronotum and rest of the wings. The upper part of the face is concolorous with the head, while the lower part of the face is black. Males, which are 3.7-4.1 mm long, are characterized by having a dark brown band across the rear of the wings, most noticeable when viewed from above: see here for a male. Females, which are 4.5-5.0 mm long, lack this brown band. Like other Clastoptera, there is a small black dot at the rear lower corner of the wings. (BG)

Nymphs are bicolored, with a dark brown head and thorax and a pale yellowish body. Note, this pattern is similar to that of C. proteus, but nymphs of that species will be found on different vegetation.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Found from southern Ontario south throughout the eastern United States, west to Colorado and New Mexico. There are also records from California and Mexico (BG).
Abundance: Uncommon, recorded from scattered locations across the Piedmont and mountains, but probably more abundant across the state in the right habitat, where hickories are present.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been recorded from mixed hardwood forest and open forest habitat.
Plant Associates: Hickory and pecan trees (Carya sp.), has also been recorded Solidago, Alnus, and Gleditsia (DL).
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light
Comment: This species sometimes contributes to twig dieback in the Midwest (BG).
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera achatina Pecan 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: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: found dead and stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on Willow Oak		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: found dead and stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on Willow Oak
Photo by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: Attracted to black light.		Photo by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: on lights.		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: tiny little thing.
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Ashe Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light		Photo by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; male		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; dark individual, maybe female?		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond