Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CLASTOPTERIDAE Members:	NC Records
Clastoptera proteus - Dogwood Spittlebug

Taxonomy

Family: CLASTOPTERIDAE
Taxonomic Author: Fitch 1851

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A highly, highly variable species with many different color forms: see here and here for some of them. Almost all color forms have alternating bands of black and yellow on the head and upper pronotum, with the rest of the pronotum blackish. Many forms also have a yellow shield or saddle of some sort on the wings, which are otherwise black or dark brown. Some individuals though can have mostly yellow wings. This species is most similar to C. testacea, with one form in particular that has an all black elytra that resembles the male of C. testacea. However, this black form has a black band across the face, a key characteristic shared among all other forms as well, separating this from the male C. testacea whose face lacks the dark band. Males are 2.9-3.5 mm long, while females are 3.3-4.1 mm (BG). Nymphs are variable in color, ranging from light brown with a dark brown band across the base of the abdomen and a dark tip to the abdomen to bicolored with a pale yellowish abdomen and dark head and thorax; the latter seems to be the more common color pattern. Note how nymphs of this species compare with those of C. achatina.

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Found throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada, ranging as far west as British Columbia where it is considered adventive (BG)

Abundance: Uncommon to rare, recorded in only a few counties in North Carolina. Likely more common in the right habitat.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Where dogwoods are present.

Plant Associates: Nymphs feed on bush dogwoods (Cornus sp.) but evidently not tree dogwoods (Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood); has also been found on Vaccinium, at least in the Midwest. Adults feed on the same hosts as the nymphs. (Hamilton, 1982)

Behavior:

Comment:

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera proteus Dogwood 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: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Montgomery Co. Comment:	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Montgomery Co. Comment:
	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Montgomery Co. Comment:	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Montgomery Co. Comment:
	Photo by: North Carolina State University Insect Collection Montgomery Co. Comment:

Clastoptera proteus - Dogwood Spittlebug

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera proteus Dogwood Spittlebug