Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Xerophloea viridis (Fabricius, 1794) - No Common Name CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

Xerophloea minor

description

A distinctive, greenish species with heavy pits all over the body and a flattened head. This is the smallest member of this genus with a shorter head than most other Xerophloea. The pronotum is about twice as long as the length of the head. Males have black and gray on much of the pronotum, a black longitudinal line on the head, and some black marks down the center of the back. Females are entirely green. The head profile is horizontal, with the head held straight out rather than slowing downwards. Adult males are 5.1-5.9 mm long, females are 5.7-6.3 mm. (Nielson, 1961)

Some individuals can be a vibrant pink color; this seems to be a very uncommon color form among species of Xerophloea.

Nymphs are green, showing the characteristic head shape of the adults. Young instars can have some sparse black speckling on the body, only to seemingly lose this in the fourth instar and then regain it more boldly in the fifth instar. For a nice set of images showing the progression from third instar to adult, see: BG.

distribution

Common and widespread in the southern and eastern United States, as far north as the mid-Atlantic states in the East and as far west as southeastern California in the west, and ranges south into southern South America (Nielson, 1961)

abundance

Scattered records across the state, primiarly in the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain where it is uncommon; probably more abundant in the right habitat.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been found in grassy, field-type areas near forest.

plant associates

Recorded from Gossypium sp. (DL)

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light, though usually found during the day.

comments

This species is sometimes referred to as X. minor. In his 1975 revision of the genus, A. Hamilton stated that the name X. viridis applies to several species of the genus (or variants of the true viridis) found in Central America and the Carribean. In the western and central United States, X. viridis is replaced by X. peltata, which has a longer head and differently-shaped pronotum.

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

Xerophloeini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Xerophloea viridis No Common Name
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught sweeping cut grass	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught sweeping cut grass
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught sweeping cut grass	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment: open forest habitat; female
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: female	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: female
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Cumberland Co. Comment: female	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf New Hanover Co. Comment: near a marsh; male
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy field.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy field.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy field.	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446155
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 5.7 mm, sitting on cement ledge at forest edge	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 5.7 mm, sitting on cement ledge at forest edge
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 5.7 mm, sitting on cement ledge at forest edge	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 5.7 mm, sitting on cement ledge at forest edge
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment: attracted to outdoor building lights	Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment: Found recently captured in spider web.
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment: Found recently captured in spider web.	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/132474891
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/132474891	Photo by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in grassy field.

Species Photo Gallery for Xerophloea viridis No Common Name