Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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Melanoliarus humilis (Say, 1830) - No Common Name     CIXIIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Rob Van Epps- note wing venation
© Scott Bolick- note head and eye shape
© Scott Bolick- note coloration
© Ted Wilcox
synonym
description A distinctive species. The vertex and mesonotum are dark brown to black, and the face is entirely fuscous except for carinae that vary from brown to dull orange. The vertex is variably wide but usually appears broad and divergent basally. The wings lack spots and are hyaline except for the apical third (the tips), which are contrastingly dark; in some specimens, the basal two-thirds of the wing are almost concolorous with the tips. The wing venation is a uniform brown color. Small, with males 4.1 to 5.0 mm long. (Mead & Kramer, 1982)

See here for images of live adults, and here for pinned specimens.

distribution Transcontinental, found across the United States and Canada (UDEL)
abundance Recorded from across the state, but priamrily in the Piedmont; for some reason, this species seems to be quite locally abundant in North Carolina compared to other states.
seasonal_occurrence
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habitat Has been reported from pasture, bogs, prairie, river edge, rye, etc.; seems to predominate in damp habitats in cooler climates. (Mead & Kramer, 1982)
plant associates Adults have been taken from Poa pratensis, Carya sp., Asimina sp., and Medicago sativa. (Mead & Kramer, 1982)

"Nymphs of cixiids are subterranean, feeding on roots and possibly fungi. The significance of adult host records is unclear. Many cixiids are presumed to be polyphagous (as adults), most often on woody plants." (UDEL)

behavior Can be attracted at night with a light.
comments This may be the most difficult genus of planthoppers, perhaps even hoppers to identify in North Carolina. However, M. humilis may be the easiest and only species to identify in the genus from a photo as it is quite visually distinctive.
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 Pentastirini
subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Melanoliarus humilis No Common Name

Photo by: ROBERT MEEHAN
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: ROBERT MEEHAN
Durham Co.
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Photo by: ROBERT MEEHAN
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: ROBERT MEEHAN
Durham Co.
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Photo by: J L
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
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Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
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Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
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Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
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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_planthopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Randolph Co.
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Photo by: Scott Bolick
Randolph Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Randolph Co.
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