Hoppers of North Carolina:
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Cicadellidae Members: NC Records

Chlorotettix rugicollis - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- note orange band on face
© Kyle Kittelberger- note rounded head with
orange margin
© Kyle Kittelberger- female; note pregenital
sternite
© Kyle Kittelberger- male; note shape of plates
Taxonomy
Family: CicadellidaeSubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: Pendarini
Taxonomic Author: (Ball, 1903)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: Greenish overall with a transverse red transverse band on the margin of the vertex/ top of the face, sometimes becoming pale orange and extending across the eyes. The wings of males are usually tinged with a tawny brown color; wing venation is large and distinct. The vertex is broadly and obtusely rounded, perhaps a little longer in the middle than next to the eye. The female pregenital sternite is deeply and triangularly excavated, with a somewhat long tooth/process in the middle that extends posteriorly from the apex of the excavation. The male genital plates are long and triangular, with the margins sparsely haired. Adults are around 7.0 mm long. (DeLong 1948), (DeLong 1918)

For diagrams of the genitalia of this species, see: Dmitriev.

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: Southeastern United States
Abundance: Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; likely under collected and therefore under reported.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
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Jun
Jul
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Oct
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Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Grassy areas, has been found in a marsh
Plant Associates: Grasses; has been found in an area with black needlerush and spartina, among other marsh grasses
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: NOTE: Chlorotettix is a notriously difficult genus to identify to species visually; a majority of the species are various shade of yellow and green, and they can only be reliably distinguished by looking at genital features. Therefore, it is very important for all Chlorotettix species other than necopinus and tergatus to obtain a picture of the underside.

This species resembles C. spatulatus but has a broader vertex and a red or orange transverse band on the margin of the vertex and between the eyes. The female pregenital sternite is very similar to that of spatulatus. (DeLong 1918)

Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Chlorotettix rugicollis No Common Name

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
New Hanover Co.
Comment: marsh grass: black needlerush, spartina, etc.; female, 7.2 mm		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
New Hanover Co.
Comment: marsh grass: black needlerush, spartina, etc.; female, 7.2 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
New Hanover Co.
Comment: marsh grass: black needlerush, spartina, etc.; female, 7.2 mm		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
New Hanover Co.
Comment: marsh grass: black needlerush, spartina, etc.; female, 7.2 mm
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male and female; NCSU specimens		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: male and female; NCSU specimens