Hoppers of North Carolina

Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Xestocephalus n-species2 - Probable Undescribed Xestocephalus Species

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Aphrodinae

Tribe: Xestocephalini

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: This species is mottled in color, with the wing cells an array of orange, brown, white, and black. The pronotum and head are a pale brown with largely scattered whitish patches, strongly contrasting with the wings and giving this species a unique appearance. The head has pale ][ shaped markings on the vertex. The underside is dark brown to blackish, and the female pregenital sternite has a concave posterior margin with a V-shaped notch. This species is large for the genus, being around 3.5 mm long.

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Distribution: Eastern United States

Abundance: Recorded from a handful of counties across the state. Possibly more abundant in the right habitat, especially in coastal counties.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been found in mixed to open forest habitat.

Plant Associates:

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a black light

Comment: An "ant guest", it lives as an immature in the tunnels of ant nests where it feeds on the roots of plants. Adults fly around a lot, looking for other ant nests (BG).

Specimens and images on this page represent an apparent [probable] undescribed species that looks similar to X. flavocapitatus, but has a somewhat uniquely marked and colored head and pronotum. This species can also stand out from most other Xestocephalus by typically being larger in size, being around 0.5 to 1 mm or more longer than most members of the genus, which tend to be less than 3 mm long. Recent DNA barcoding revealed specimens of this 'species' indicate it is unrelated to anything presently described. For more images of this potential new species, see: BG.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Xestocephalus n-species2 Probable Undescribed Xestocephalus Species
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Warren Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Warren Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: ~3.5 mm, male	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: ~3.5 mm, male
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: ~3.5 mm, male	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Gates Co. Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Gates Co. Comment: open, grassy area near mixed hardwood forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Gates Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Randolph Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Randolph Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Randolph Co. Comment:

Xestocephalus n-species2 - Probable Undescribed Xestocephalus Species

Species Photo Gallery for Xestocephalus n-species2 Probable Undescribed Xestocephalus Species