Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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Cilidius vicarius (Walker, 1851) - No Common Name     CIXIIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Bo Sullivan- female
© Bo Sullivan- female
© Bo Sullivan- male
© Bo Sullivan- male
synonym Melanoliarus vicarius
description General appearance resembles M. quinquelineatus: "The vertex and mesonotum are fuscous to castaneous in color, with the mesonotal carinae typically concolorous but sometimes a dull orange. The vertex is moderately broad and variable, with the median length typically about equal to the width of the apex of the posterior emargination. The face is usually fuscous to brown in color, sometimes castaneous, with prominent carinae that range from brown to orange. The frons is moderately narrow with the width greater than the median length. The wings are highly variable in color, being almost immaculate in some specimens and variously banded and spotted with fuscous in other specimens. Well-marked individuals have two or three spots in the costal cells. The wing venation is typically pale except where brown spotting or banding occurs." The stigma is a distinct brown color but narrower than that of quinquelineatus. Adult males are 6.0 to 8.2 mm long. (Mead & Kramer, 1982)
distribution Primarily Souteastern United States (UDEL)
abundance Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
seasonal_occurrence
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habitat
plant associates Collected from woody plants, including Quercus laevis, Galactia elliottii, Psidium quajava, and Pinus sp. (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. This species is most similar to M. quinquelineatus, and together quinquelineatus and vicarius form a complex/cluster within Melanoliarus. These two species are unlikely, as of right now, to be distinguishable by photo alone and instead need to be dissected, but vicarius does tend to be longer and have wings that are more highly colored. There are also slight differences in the male genitalia of these two closely related species: see Mead & Kramer, 1982 for additional information on these differences.

Mead & Kramer note that this species is likely univoltine (having a single brood).

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 Pentastirini
subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Cilidius vicarius No Common Name

Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: photos by K. Kittelberger		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: photos by K. Kittelberger
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 8.1 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 8.1 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 8.1 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 8.1 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 8.1 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 8.1 mm
Photo by: unknown
Out Of State Co.
Comment: PSUC_FEM 000066890rndate unknown; collected some time in 1968rndet. C.R. Bartlettrnmale		Photo by: unknown
Out Of State Co.
Comment: PSUC_FEM 000066890rndate unknown; collected some time in 1968rndet. C.R. Bartlettrnmale
Photo by: unknown
Out Of State Co.
Comment: PSUC_FEM 000066890rndate unknown; collected some time in 1968rndet. C.R. Bartlettrnmale		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 7.1 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 7.1 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 7.1 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 7.1 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Carteret Co.
Comment: male; 7.1 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: female, 9.0 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: female, 9.0 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: female, 9.0 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: female, 9.0 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: female, 9.0 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: female, 9.0 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: female, 9.0 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: male, 7.2 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: male, 7.2 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: male, 7.2 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: male, 7.2 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: male, 7.2 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: male, 7.2 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female, 7.3 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female, 7.3 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female, 7.3 mm
Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female, 7.3 mm		Photo by: Bo Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: female, 7.3 mm
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: additional photos by K. Kittelberger; ID confirmed by C. Bartlett via specimen
Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Cumberland Co.
Comment: