Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Catonia carolina (Metcalf, 1923) - No Common Name ACHILIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A grayish brown species with highly mottled wings that sometimes have a faint U-shaped transverse brown band. The thorax tends to be a fairly dark brown, and the wing veins are pale with small black spots along their length; the venation near the wing tips is bold, lacking black spots. The underside tends to be a pale brownish color, and the face is pale yellowish-brown in color. There are two pale white bands across the face: a typically incomplete band in the middle, between the base of the eyes, and an incomplete one along the edge of the clypeus. The clypeus itself is concolorous with the rest of the frons. Adults range in length from 3.1-5.8 mm. (O'Brien, 1971)

distribution

Eastern and Central United States (UDEL)

abundance

Recorded across the state, with a majority of records from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; can be locally abundant where found.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been found in mixed hardwood forest, open forest, and forest edge.

plant associates

Thespesia grandiflora (Malvaceae; as Montezuma speciosissima), Inga vera (river koko, Fabaceae), Piper aduncum (Piperaceae) (UDEL)

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light.

comments

The wing pattern of C. carolina very closely resembles that of C. lunata, so a picture of the face pattern is necessary in distinguishing these two species. The face of lunata is noticeably darker than that of carolina, being orange-brown with a bold, broad white transverse band in the middle; carolina has a paler face lacking highly contrasting colorful bands; instead, there is an incomplete white band across the middle of an otherwise yellowish-brown face.

This species is also similar to C. pumila, which too has a similar wing color and pattern. In order to best distinguish the two species, the size and face pattern are important. C. pumila is [typically] noticeably smaller than C. carolina: see a nice comparison DLT-cQuSjQ-cQu8To' target='_blank'>here. The face of C. pumila can vary from being a light uniform yellowish-brown with no markings to having light brown markings with a faint, broad pale band across the middle of the face (UDEL). It is therefore necessary to photograph the face to make an identification possible among individuals that may represent one of these species.

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 Catonia carolina No Common Name
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: These are fairly common in Aug and are attracted to the Black Light. However, a facial photo is required for positive ID. Several observed and photographed 12 & 13 Aug 2013	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: These are fairly common in Aug and are attracted to the Black Light. However, a facial photo is required for positive ID. Several observed and photographed 12 & 13 Aug 2013
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: mixed hardwood, open forest near lake edge	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: mixed hardwood, open forest near lake edge
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: mixed hardwood, open forest near lake edge	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: mixed hardwood, open forest near lake edge
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black light	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black light
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: open habitat near mixed hardwood forest edge; on a lawn	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: open habitat near mixed hardwood forest edge; on a lawn
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: open habitat near mixed hardwood forest edge; on a lawn	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: open habitat near mixed hardwood forest edge; on a lawn
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:

Species Photo Gallery for Catonia carolina No Common Name