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

Lepyronia quadrangularis - Diamondback Spittlebug


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view; note the v-shaped
mark on the side
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view; note the
diamond-like pattern on the back
© Paul Scharf- nymph; note black band
Taxonomy
Family: APHROPHORIDAE
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: Typically a brownish spittlebug with two prominent dark (black) bands going across the wings, forming a diamond-shape when viewed from above; some individuals can also be orange in color. Wings have a fine covering of hairs. Adults have a horizontally-shaped, flattened head (noticeable when viewed from the side) which does not strongly slope downwards in the front. In addition, it has long wings that are narrower than in other species of this genus. Adult males are 5.8-7.2 mm long, females are 6.6-8.5 mm. (Hamilton, 1982)

The youngest nymphs are yellowish in coloration while later instars are greenish with a prominent black band. BG

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: One of the most abundant spittlebugs in eastern woodlands, this is a common species of eastern and central North America, recorded as far west as Colorado and as far north as Canada. BG
Abundance: Common and widespread across the state, recorded from the mountains to the coast.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Frequently found in weedy, field-type habitat along forest-edge. BG
Plant Associates: Grasses, shrubs, herbs, and trees. Solidago. Medicago sativa, Quercus falcata (DL)
Behavior: As the name suggests, this species produces spittle, a feature that helps protect the developing nymphs. Eggs are laid between the leaf and main stem of grasses from midsummer to late fall. The nymphs feeds and molts under spittle and hibernates in the egg stage. NW
Comment:
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Lepyronia quadrangularis Diamondback Spittlebug

Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erin Price-Erwin
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to garage night light. - unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to garage night light. - unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: Attracted to garage night light. - unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Iredell Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping.
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Avery Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Avery Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: caught in a sweep in marsh dominated by Persicaria, cattails		Photo by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA
Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)		Photo by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey
Photo by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-22)		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888757
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888757		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: stuck on a tree band on Quercus phellos
Photo by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: dead in Tanglefoot on a tree band		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 6.5 mm male, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 6.5 mm male, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: sweep through low vegetation
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I was pulling up bamboo grass as its going to seed. These bugs were all over and one landed on my arm.		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I was pulling up bamboo grass as its going to seed. These bugs were all over and one landed on my arm.
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 8.8mm		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I found it because of a katydid, was looking for spreadwing damselflies. - unid_planthopper
Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I found it because of a katydid, was looking for spreadwing damselflies. - unid_planthopper		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Grassy, open area.
Photo by: Floyd Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: Adult along with nymph in spittle.		Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn,C Mitchell
Durham Co.
Comment: Nymph, 8 adults also sighted. There was quite a lot of spittle in the area which was also probably this species
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Vance Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest, open forest, grassy patches		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, Found inside Spittle		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, Found inside spittle