Hoppers of North Carolina:
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FLATIDAE Members: NC Records

Metcalfa pruinosa - Citrus Flatid Planthopper

Metcalfa pruinosa
© Kyle Kittelberger		Metcalfa pruinosa
© Kyle Kittelberger		Metcalfa pruinosa
© Ken Childs		Metcalfa pruinosa
© Paul Scharf- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: FLATIDAESubfamily: Flatinae
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
Description: The color of adult Metcalfa pruinosa varies considerably from brown to gray to partially dark blue, due chiefly to the presence or absence of a bluish white waxy powder coating the wings. A characteristic pair of dark spots is located in the basal half of each forewing, and there can be small pale spots across the rest of the wings. The eyes and legs are orange colored. Adults are usually 5.5 to 8 mm in length. Nymphs are less than twice as long as wide, and vary in size depending upon the growth stage . A mature nymph is approximately 4 mm long, not counting waxy filaments which break easily, and are white. Nymphs have a flat shape and can produce an extremely large amount of waxy filaments.

Nymphs are pale in coloration, often appearing whitish. Note the shape of the wing pads, which produce a deep V or U-shaped concave posterior margin. Overall, nymphs have a somewhat slender body shape profile.

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: Very widespread, occurring from Southeastern Canada, south through eastern and central United States and into Mexico; also on Bermuda and found in much of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico), and introduced into Europe, where it is very widespread (from France to Russia and Turkey) and Korea. (UDEL)
Abundance: A fairly common species, recorded across the state with a majority of records coming from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in a variety of habitats, from grassy brushy areas to mixed hardwood forest.
Plant Associates: Extremely polyphagous, found on a variety of trees including: maples, dogwoods, hawthorns, willows, elms, privet, black locust, and alder. It can also be found on crop plants such as grape, citrus, apricot, peach, blackberry, and raspberry. (Wiki)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Metcalfa purinosa typically does little damage to plants. On occasion (less common in North America), it can destroy buds and cause fruit drop, particularly in vineyards, groves, or orchards. Sooty-mold fungus can develop in the honeydew excreted by this species. Limited virus transmission tests have shown M. pruinosa is a non-vector of tristeza, peach yellows, and blueberry stunt. In Europe, M. pruinosa causes considerable damage to some crops and orchards. A dryinid wasp parasite, Psilodryinus typhlocybae, has been reported as common on nymphs of M. pruinosa and its relatives. (UFL)
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Metcalfa pruinosa Citrus Flatid Planthopper

Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: sweep of low vegetation
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Hunter Phillips, Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/223173185
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: came to UV light at night		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment: On wooden side of cabin
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Attracted to front porch light 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Iredell Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: caught in Tanglefoot on a tree band on Willow Oak
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: Attracted to entrance light.		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80044015
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH,Caught sweeping		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH,Caught sweeping
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH,Caught sweeping		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55853876		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55600162
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55600162		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51823664
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51305251		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31514467		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31181169
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29030074		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: sweep through low vegetation		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477224
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477224		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: back of sheet away from moth lights
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: vin stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Hunter Phillips, Cathy Songer
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Weedy area near a few trees.		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Greenway - weedy edge of woods. Attracted to black light.
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: hanging on the edge of the moth sheet.
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: aubrey wiggins
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: aubrey wiggins
Wake Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Maria de Bruyn
Orange Co.
Comment: Running up and down my chair on the front porch		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Ken Childs
Out Of State Co.
Comment:
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy habitat
Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Metcalfa pruinosaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat