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

Penestragania robusta - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- note black hairs on wing
© Kyle Kittelberger
© Randy Newman
Taxonomy
Family: CicadellidaeSubfamily: IassinaeTribe: Hyalojassini
Taxonomic Author: (Uhler, 1877)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A green species (fading to yellow with age and/or in collected specimens), with many short black hairs (setae) scattered across the surface of the wings; sometimes these hairs can be pale, and there may be dark rings at the base of them. The vertex is short and broadly rounded, less wide than the pronotum. The posterior margin of the female pregenital sternite is barely excavated and is slightly bisinuate, with a small median projection. Adult males are 3.2-4.3 mm long, females are 3.6-4.7 mm. (Beamer & Lawson, 1945), (Blocker, 1970)

Nymphs have a green body, densely covered with white pubescence which grows thicker and longer as the nymph ages.

See here for more images of this species: BG.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Primarily the southern United States, from Florida to California, where it is somewhat common; reported as far North as Maryland.
Abundance: Rare in the state (but possibly overlooked or undercollected), with a couple records from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain (though Blocker 1970 indicates there are other records for the state).
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Plant Associates: Blocker (1970) notes multiple host plants for this species; those reported from the southeastern United States are: Axonopus compressus, Cynodon dactylon, Iva sp., Larrea tridentata glutinosa, Medicago sativa, Paspalum notatum, & Prunus augustifolia
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: This species is similar to Penestragania alabamensis but can be distinguished by the black hairs on the wings; in P. alabamensis, the hairs are white. Blocker (1970) notes that P. robusta varies considerably in size, shape of the vertex, genitalia and other characteristics.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Penestragania robusta No Common Name

Photo by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA		Photo by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA - MerVapLt @ -76.682482, 34.696086
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: NCSU specimen		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: NCSU specimen