Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

MEMBRACIDAE Members:	NC Records
Tortistilus abnorma - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: MEMBRACIDAE

Subfamily: Smiliinae

Tribe: Ceresini

Synonym: Tortistilus abnormus

Taxonomic Author: (Caldwell, 1949)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: The pronotum tends to be highly arched in this species, with the sides densely spotted with white. The pregenital sternite of the female has a broad V-shaped notch in the center of the posterior margin. Adult males are 7.2 mm long and 3.8 mm wide across the horns, while females are 7.5 mm and 4.2 mm across the horns (Caldwell, 1949). Additionally, the pronotum is not pubescent and anteriorly is somewhat tall; overall, it has a large appearance. The reddish to red-brown legs are also diagnostic for this species. 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 North America

Abundance: Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and mountains; uncommon to rare, but likely underreported due to misidentifications with Hadrophallus bubalus.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Forested areas

Plant Associates: Quercus sp. (CTGSMNP)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species was confused and misidentified for years with Hadrophallus bubalus and, together with Stictocephala bisonia, form a bit of a visual complex of species that look similar to one another. However, there are some key criteria that can be used to help separate the three species, and the subgenital plates and pregenital sternites of these three genera are also different from one another. (S. Hendrix pers. comments)

bubalus: the pronotum is very pubescent and strongly arched (but not anteriorly very tall). Has green legs. Overall small appearance. subgenital plates

bisonia: the pronotum is not pubescent, is strongly arched, and anteriorly is very tall. Has green legs. Overall large appearance. Stictocephala subgenital plates

abnorma: the pronotum is not pubescent, is strongly arched, and anteriorly is somewhat tall. Has red legs. Overall large appearance. subgenital plates

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Tortistilus abnorma No Common Name
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:

Tortistilus abnorma - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Tortistilus abnorma No Common Name