Hoppers of North Carolina:
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Xestocephalus tessellatus (Van Duzee, 1894) - No Common Name     CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Brian Bockhahn- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- note color pattern
© Kyle Kittelberger
© Mark Shields
synonym Xestocephalus tesselatus
description One of the larger members of this genus, being around 4 mm long. A brownish species, it has a high density of fine white spots on the wings, scutellum, pronotum, and head. Osborn, 1928 notes "differs from the other species in being larger and having the light and dark arragned in rather sharply contrasting tesselations." A black spot exists behind the eye, on the edge of the pronotum. The scutellum is pale brown with basal black triangles. (Tennessee 1905).
distribution Recorded in the Southeast, west to Texas (Bugguide).
abundance Recorded mostly from counties in the Coastal Plain but also has been found in the Piedmont and mountains, probably more abundant in the right habitat (especially in the Coastal Plain).
seasonal_occurrence
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habitat Recorded so far from a lawn near a big swamp and from mixed hardwood forest.
plant associates
behavior Can be attracted at night with a light.
comments An "ant guest", it lives as an immature in the tunnels of ant nests where it feeds on the roots of plants. Adults fly around a lot, looking for other ant nests (BG).
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
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rank_comments
tribe Xestocephalini
subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Xestocephalus tessellatus No Common Name

Photo by: Brian Bockhahn
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Cumberland Co.
Comment: attracted at night with a light		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Gates Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: Attracted to white CFL porch light in semi-wood residential area.		Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: Attracted to white CFL porch light in semi-wooded residential area.
Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment: female; photographed by K. Kittelberger
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment: female; photographed by K. Kittelberger		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Pender Co.
Comment: female; photographed by K. Kittelberger
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51088370		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51088370
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51088370		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386742
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386742		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386742