Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Erythroneura pontifex - No Common Name


© Ken Childs- note pattern
© John Rosenfeld- note dark head markings
© Scott Bolick
© John Rosenfeld- note head and wing pattern
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeTribe: Erythroneurini
Taxonomic Author: (McAtee, 1926)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A fairly distinctive reddish-orange and yellow patterned species with two color forms that have smoky wingtips. In one form, the pattern on the thorax and scutellum, which is yellowish-orange in color, transitions and blends into reddish-orange markings on the wings. In the other color form, the body markings are yellow and the base of the wings are yellow, contrasting with a bright, bold 'saddle' in the middle of the wings. In both forms however, the top of the head has two bold black parallel lines with a pale midline. In some individuals, the black marks merge near the pronotum, forming a wide dark patch that encompasses much of the vertex. The face is pale, as is the underside of the thorax outside of the dark mesosternum. Adults are 2.8- 3.1 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007)
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: Central and northeastern United States; previously unknown from North Carolina and the Southeast.
Abundance: Recorded recently from a couple counties in the mountains, likely more abundant in this region.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Plant Associates: Vitis sp., Rubus sp. (3I)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: This species is most similar to E. reflecta, with very similar wing color patterns. However, reflecta lacks the black markings on the vertex that pontifex has.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Erythroneura pontifex No Common Name

Photo by: Scott Bolick
Wilkes Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Wilkes Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Polk Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
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Photo by: John Rosenfeld
Out Of State Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: John Rosenfeld
Out Of State Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Childs
Out Of State Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: John Rosenfeld
Out Of State Co.
Comment:
Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff
Buncombe Co.
Comment: