Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

ACANALONIIDAE Members:	NC Records
Acanalonia bivittata - Two-striped Planthopper

Taxonomy

Family: ACANALONIIDAE
Taxonomic Author: (Say)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF
Description: This species is typically green with broad wings with dense venation. There is a reddish-brown stripe along the inner edge of both wings, diverging around the margins of the thorax and producing two lines extending to the reddish eyes. Some individuals can be pink rather than green; this color form is known as A. bivittata var. rubescens. The legs are brown. Nymphs typically have a pale, whitish body with brown mottling on top, giving an overall brownish appearance (a key characteristic of this species); the amount of brown mottling can vary among nymph instars. Nymphs in good condition will show a dense clump of white hairs extending from the tip of the abdomen. Nymphs also tend to have a fairly flat and broad head, a very useful characteristic when differentiating from A. conica nymphs which tend to have pointed heads; when viewed from above or the side, the head looks flat across and rectangular in shape. However, nymphs are very difficult to identify in this genus and an ID may not be possible. See W & M for more information and illustrations of nymph instars.(UDEL)

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern and central United States; also Ontario and Mexico (UDEL)

Abundance: Common and widespread across the state.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been found in grassy, field-type habitats, shrublands, forest edge, and within mixed hardwood forest.

Plant Associates: Polyphagous, found on a variety of plants.

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This is the most common and widespread Acanalonia. Nymphs can be parasitized by species of Dryinidae.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Acanalonia bivittata Two-striped Planthopper
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126008621	Photo by: Simpson Eason Durham Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Bladen Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/115645920	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91065307
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91065307	Photo by: B. Bockhahn, L. Purvis Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52500109	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/48048317
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/48048317	Photo by: Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: sweep through low vegetation at forest edge	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28768558
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28696165	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28696165
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28696165	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Iredell Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in weedy field.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: margin of large retention pond / marsh	Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI
	Photo by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - Pink color phase	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: Nymph, Caught sweeping
	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: Nymph, Caught sweeping	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Open grassy area.
	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Orange Co. Comment: Unfortunately this nymph was parasitized with two Dryinid sacs (the round, gray spherical object) on the thorax.
	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B. Bockhahn,C. Mitchell Durham Co. Comment: nymph	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; nymph
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Orange Co. Comment: Unfortunately this nymph was parasitized with two Dryinid sacs (the round, gray spherical object) on the thorax.	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy and field-type habitat; pink and green color forms
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy and field-type habitat; pink and green color forms	Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: Nymph, Caught sweeping
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; nymph	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Orange Co. Comment: Unfortunately this nymph was parasitized with two Dryinid sacs (the round, gray spherical object) on the thorax.
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught sweeping	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy and field-type habitat; pink and green color forms
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: grassy and field-type habitat; pink and green color forms	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Halifax Co. Comment: grassy road among mixed hardwood forest

Acanalonia bivittata - Two-striped Planthopper

Species Photo Gallery for Acanalonia bivittata Two-striped Planthopper