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

Cyrtolobus dixianus - No Common Name


Cyrtolobus dixianus
© Solomon Hendrix- male
Cyrtolobus dixianus
© Solomon Hendrix- male; note pattern
Cyrtolobus dixianus
© Solomon Hendrix- female; note crest shape,
color
Cyrtolobus dixianus
© Matthew S. Wallace- dark female
Taxonomy
Family: MEMBRACIDAESubfamily: SmiliinaeTribe: Smiliini
Taxonomic Author: Woodruff, 1924
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
Description: A species with a fairly distinctive color pattern compared to other members of this genus. Males have coarser but sparser punctuation on their pronotum, as well as a shinier surface, than that of the female. Males have a yellowish green face and a dark pronotum, typically with a combination of pale speckling and transverse pale bands contrasting with darker coloration; in some individuals, these bands are less distinct. The forewings are hyaline, darker towards the rear. The body beneath is bright green, and the tergum of the abdomen is black, sometimes infringing on the green of ventral segments. The male's genital organs are black, and the legs are a bright yellowish-green. Females are overall a light green, sometimes yellowish color, with scattered pale spots; some females can be quite dark though. The face is a brighter yellow, as well as the sides of the abdomen. The eyes are green, centrally reddish brown. The pronotum is moderately arched, highest in the middle, and the body beneath is green; the edge of the pronotal crest is brownish. The forewings are hyaline, their veins greenish and distinct. The legs are green with rosy claws. Adult males are 6.5 mm long while females are 7.5 mm. (Kopp)

Nymphs of this species are typical for the genus and are a light green.

For more images of this species, see: BG.

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: Eastern and central United States, west to Texas (Kopp)
Abundance: Uncommon to rare, only a handful of records from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Seasonal distribution: 26 April-26 May (CTNC)
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Plant Associates: Quercus alba, Q. falcata, Q. palustris, Q. stellata (CTNC); also reared from Quercus bicolor.
Behavior: To listen to the male courtship call for this genus, listen here. These courtship calls are not audible to the human ear, and the calls here are produced by recording the substrate vibrations that the treehoppers use to communicate through the plants themselves. The recorded call is then amplified so that it is now audible to human ears. Research has shown that treehoppers use vibrations to attract mates, to announce the discovery of a good feeding site, or to alert a defending mother to the approach of a predator (T.IM).

Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species displays notable variation in coloration and pattern. It is most similar, particularly females, to Atymna helena. Note that females of A. helena tend to have a differently-shaped pronotum that is less pronounced and shorter (in terms of height) compared to that of females of C. dixianus. Males of A. helena are typically distinguishable and look more like males of A. querci.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests

Species Photo Gallery for Cyrtolobus dixianus No Common Name

Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Urban garden area. Large and immature oaks
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Urban garden area. Large and immature oaks
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Urban garden area. Large and immature oaks
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Urban garden area. Large and immature oaks
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Urban garden area. Large and immature oaks
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. female.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. female.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. female.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. female.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. female.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. male.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. male.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. male.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. male.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. male.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. male.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Solomon Hendrix
Out Of State Co.
Comment: hand collected. male.
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Many found under a young oak tree
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Many found under a young oak tree
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Kelli Ashby
Durham Co.
Comment: Many found under a young oak tree
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Mark J. Rothschild
Out Of State Co.
Comment: female
Cyrtolobus dixianusPhoto by: Matthew S. Wallace
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male