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

Shellenius ballii - No Common Name


© Scott Bolick- note coloration
© Scott Bolick
© Owen McConnell
Taxonomy
Family: DERBIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A distinctly colored species with characteristic red and dark markings. The head, which is proportionately longer than in other similar Derbids, has a broad red band that extends across the entire length. This band narrows on the sides of the thorax, continuing onto the wings where it considerably widens up and darkens toward the wing tips; the wing venation in this widened band is the same bright red color as the beginning of the band while the wing cells in between the veins are a dark blackish-brown color, sometimes appearing spotted. The rest of the wings, thorax and head are a pale yellow color.

For more 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: An infrequently encountered genus and species, previously unknown from North Carolina; it has been found in scattered states across eastern and central North America.
Abundance: Rare, a few records from the mountains and Piedmont.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Plant Associates: Acer (maple), Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam), Sabal palmetto, Fraxinus (ash) (UDEL)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: One of two members of Shellenius that occur in the United States; the other species, S. schellenbergii, was also recently found to occur in North Carolina. Its coloration and pattern is more similar to that of Apache degeeri.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank: GNR [G3G4] [SU]

Species Photo Gallery for Shellenius ballii No Common Name

Photo by: Mark Brown and Navina Brown
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 2 others observed but not photographed on Blue Beech.
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 2 others observed but not photographed on Blue Beech. 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment: It was stationary on the door frame