Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Idiocerus nervatus - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Eurymelinae

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A yellowish-green species, sometimes with a brownish tint to the wing-tips. It has very prominent dark hind wing venation showing through otherwise hyaline fore wings (tegmina), characteristic of this species. Males have black antennal tips, characteristic of males of this genus, and white facial stripes, with a noticeable white midline on the pronotum. The scutellum on males also has a white mark, and there are two brown lateral triangles in the upper corners of the scutellum. Females lack the midline, have a greenish scutellum, and are more elongate and slender than the males (larger as well). The crown of the head for both sexes is unmarked. The male subgenital plates are short and thin, wider near the apex. The female pregenital sternite has a rounded posterior margin with a shallow median emargination. Adult males are 4.4-5.0 mm long, while females are 4.8-5.3 mm. (Freytag 1965)

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: Found throughout much of the United States, transcontinental

Abundance: Uncommon with scattered records primarily from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, possibly more abundant 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 open habitat near forest edge.

Plant Associates: Primarily from willows, including Salix lucida, S. amygdaloides, S. lutea, S. lasiandra, S. nigra (black willow), and from junipers (Juniperus virginiana, etc.). Also reported from poplar (Populus deltoides), and out West from redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). (Freytag 1965)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: According to A. Hamilton, there are two 2 morphologically similar species under the name Idiocerus nervatus that utilize different host plants; one feeds on willows while the other on red-cedar (juniper). It is unclear how to apply the name to which species.The willow feeder tends to be more northerly and the cedar feeder more southerly (it has yet to be recorded in Canada). That being said, at least one individual in the state has been found on willow. (BG)

Some specimens of this species have been confused and mislabeled as I. pallidus. These records have been correctly entered here under I. nervatus.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Idiocerus nervatus No Common Name
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Found on Salex nigra (Black Willow).	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Found on Black Willow (Salex nigra).
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Found on Black Willow (Salex nigra).	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.4 mm female found stuck on a tree band on oak, dead
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.4 mm female found stuck on a tree band on oak, dead	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.4 mm female found stuck on a tree band on oak, dead
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Craven Co. Comment: female, 4.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Craven Co. Comment: female, 4.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Craven Co. Comment: female, 4.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Craven Co. Comment: female, 4.0 mm
	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: mostly brushy vegetation consisting of willows, etc., on shore of lake; some grass as well
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: mostly brushy vegetation consisting of willows, etc., on shore of lake; some grass as well	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: mostly brushy vegetation consisting of willows, etc., on shore of lake; some grass as well
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: mostly brushy vegetation consisting of willows, etc., on shore of lake; some grass as well	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Dare Co. Comment: open, coastal, pine habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Dare Co. Comment: open, coastal, pine habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open habitat near forest edge; in parking lot
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open habitat near forest edge; in parking lot	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open habitat near forest edge; in parking lot

Idiocerus nervatus - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Idiocerus nervatus No Common Name