Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
Scientific Name: Search Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
Plesiommata tripunctata (Fitch, 1851) - No Common Name     CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Kyle Kittelberger- side view; note the white
body with black lines
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph side view
synonym Provancherana tripunctata
description An unmistakeable species with a very distinct pattern. Adults have a white body with black wing veins and black lines on top of the thorax and on the front of the face. In addition, there are two noticeable black dots on top of the head between the eyes and one large black dot on the side of each eye. Adults are a little larger than 5mm in length. Nymphs are pale yellowish-green in color and show the distinctive pattern of the adults, with the two black dots between the eyes and the large black dot on the side of each eye.
distribution A widespread species found in Eastern North America, with records from Texas to the Northeast (per Bugguide). BG
abundance A locally common species in the state, uncommon overall, with scattered records across all three regions, mostly from the Piedmont and mountains. Possibly more common in the right habitat.
seasonal_occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
habitat In NC this species usually occurs in grassy habitats, including among pine trees, mixed hardwood forests, and even in parking lots. Can also occur in brushy habitats.
plant associates Unknown
behavior This species can be attracted to a sheet with a black light.
comments Very little information is known about the biology of this species, and until recently its nymphs were unknown. Some of the pics below represent the first photographs of nymphs of this species.

Most authors treat this species as belonging to the genus Plesiommata. However, Provancher's description for this species was apparently a misidentified Aphrophora spittlebug. As a result, A. Hamilton replaced Plesiommata with Provancherana. This name though is not followed by most authors in the field, and a neotype needs to be designated to clarify any discrepancies. Therefore, we will follow most authors and use Plesiommata for the time being.

status [Native:] [Introduced:] [Extirpated:]
list_type [Official:] [Provisional:]
adult_id Unmistakable and widely known Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens
Identifiable from photos showing undersides, or other specialized views [e.g., legs, face]
Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis NULL
nymph_id Unmistakable and widely known Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants
Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis
Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood NULL
G_rank
S_rank
rank_comments
tribe
subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Plesiommata tripunctata No Common Name

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy road among pine tree forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy area and mixed hardwood forest edge
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Surry Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Surry Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge. A nymph, showing the distinctive color pattern of the adult. One of a several pics of a nymph of this species.
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge. A nymph, showing the distinctive color pattern of the adult. One of only several pics of a nymph of this species.		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH, Caught Sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH, Caught Sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf, Kyle Kittlelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Halifax Co.
Comment: Found on short cut grass
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: grassy/brushy/pine habitat		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: counted 15 along a 20m transect through a mowed area of mixed grass and vegetation adjacent to a meadow, later 10 in 1m2 in wet mowed area mixed with sphagnum-like moss
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: counted 15 along a 20m transect through a mowed area of mixed grass and vegetation adjacent to a meadow, later 10 in 1m2 in wet mowed area mixed with sphagnum-like moss		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: counted 15 along a 20m transect through a mowed area of mixed grass and vegetation adjacent to a meadow, later 10 in 1m2 in wet mowed area mixed with sphagnum-like moss
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 5.1 mm male, forest edge with small lawn and meadow nearby		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 5.1 mm male, forest edge with small lawn and meadow nearby
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: male, 5.5 mm, several flushing from overgrown lawn and meadow border during day		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52211873 - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52211873 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52211881 - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52528500
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52625385		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53113737
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: sweep through vegetation in a wet area, cattails and Persicaria dominant
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy, grassy field.