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

Erasmoneura nigra - No Common Name


© Robert Deans
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeTribe: Erythroneurini
Taxonomic Author: (Gillette, 1898)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A dark brown to black hopper with mostly black wings and body with some pale spots. The head has a white midline, while the face is pale. The pronotum has three small white dots on the anterior margin; otherwise, it is entirely dark. In some individuals, there is a prominent heart-shaped or circular "white saddle" on the middle of the wings. Other individuals lack this white spots and have a couple smaller, fainter white patches or lines instead. Both forms have white on the costal margin of the wings and white transverse veins toward the wing tips. Legs are pale. Adults are 2.6-3.1 mm long. (3I)

Nymphs are pale with black wing buds, a black final segment of the abdomen, and a mostly black pronotum (with some black extending onto the head).

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Primarily eastern and central North America (3I)
Abundance: A single recent confirmed record from the Piedmont, likely under-reported across the state.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Mixed hardwood forest habitat.
Plant Associates: Polygonum muehlenbergii, Circaea lutetiana, Ilex decidua, Crataegus mollis, Polygonum virginianum (Persicaria virginiana), Aesculus sp., Cercis canadensis, Vitis sp., among others (3I)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Both E. atra and E. nigra are extremely similar in coloration and pattern, and both species actually have the same coloration description; see atra and nigra. C. Dietrich and D. Chandler have noted that there are no known clear visual characteristics that separate the two species. There are really only two ways to distinguish between these species. First is dissecting a male specimen and looking at the genitalia. Second is using plant host, as both species largely have different main host plants (with Cercis canadensis, or redbud being the exception).
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Erasmoneura nigra No Common Name

Photo by: Robert Deans
Forsyth Co.
Comment: E. nigra based on hostrnrnhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126367970		Photo by: Robert Deans
Forsyth Co.
Comment: E. nigra based on host; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126367970