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

Empoa casta - No Common Name


© Rob Van Epps- note angled median band
© Rob Van Epps- note pattern
© Kyle Kittelberger- note thin median band
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeSynonym: Typhlocyba casta
Taxonomic Author: (McAtee 1926)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A pale yellowish species, with a yellowish-white to light yellow head, pronotum, and scutellum; sometimes the scutellum is a deep yellow to yellowish-brown. The wings are yellowish-white to whitish with a dark brown transverse band across the middle of the wings. This band is oblique on the corium (outer part of the wing), curving downwards to the costal margins (instead of transversing straight across the wings); this band is narrow and sometimes consists of only several spots or slight traces of of brown near the costal margin. The transverse band is as bold as, but not bolder than the dark brown infuscations around the apical crossveins: the spots around the apical crossveins form a band of their own, typically consisting of four spots in the inner three basal and first apical cells to eight or nine spots in these cells. Individuals that only have four spots making up the apical band usually lack a median transverse band. The abdomen has the dorsum of each segment black on the basal half; the underside of these segments is black in males, yellow or white in females. Adults are 3.25-3.75 mm long. (Christian, 1954)

For 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.
Distribution: Transcontinental, throughout North America (3I)
Abundance: Recorded from a few counties in the mountains and Piedmont; likely under colelcted and tehrefore more abundant in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Plant Associates: Quercus alba, Q. macrocarpa, Quercus sp. (Christian, 1954)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Christian, 1954 stated that the series of specimens collected on Quercus sp. from Franklin, NC differed from typical casta specimens in being slightly larger and having the median transverse band sharply distinct with smooth margins; the ground color was an opaque light yellow. Due to these differences, Christian noted that this form could be a distinct species. If individuals matching this description are found, it is important for them to be collected in order to determine if they truly are separate species.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests

Species Photo Gallery for Empoa casta No Common Name

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Polk Co.
Comment: male		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Polk Co.
Comment: male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: male		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: male		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods. 		Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16095891