Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Pissonotus piceus (Van Duzee, 1894) - No Common Name DELPHACIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A species that widely varies in color, from dark chestnut-brown to brownish orange. The body is shiny and the frons is immaculate; it is pale ventrally and gradually becomes darker dorsally, with a dark clypeus. However, the colors of the frons can intergrade and sometimes it is completely pale. The antennal segments are yellowish. Markings on the apex of the wing and posterior margin of the pronotum may be present or absent. The key distinguishing characteristic for this species and other similar ones in the P. piceus complex is the narrow but projecting vertex. While the vertex (top of the head) usually does not extend much past the eyes in other Pissonotus, it noticeably projects past the eyes in piceus, as can be seen here. Macropterous individuals are similarly colored to brachypters, with the caudal apex of the mesonotum yellowish and wings clear. Adult brachypterous males are 2.20-2.38 mm long, while females are 2.81-3.19 mm; macropterous males are 3.10-3.37 mm long while females are 3.38-3.81 mm. (Bartlett & Deitz, 2000)

For more images of this species, see here.

distribution

The second most commonly collected Pissonotus species. Found in Eastern and central North America; also Belize, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad, and Venezuela (UDEL)

abundance

Scattered records across the state, likely abundant in the right habitat.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Wetland areas

plant associates

Polygonum hydropiperoides (Swamp smartweed), Polygonum sp., (Polygonaceae); Ludwigia peploides (floating primrose-willow), Ludwigia grandiflora (large-flower primrose-willow; Onagraceae). This species can be abundant on swamp smartweed and may be on some closely related smartweeds. (UDEL)

behavior

Often encountered at lights. (UDEL)

comments

This species has a relatively large calcar (spur on the hind leg) which is reminiscent of Megamelus, probably to assist with jumping off the surface of the water. (UDEL)

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

Delphacini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Pissonotus piceus No Common Name
	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment: very dark individual	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61815279	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61815279
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61815279	Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment: attracted to outdoor building lights, ID tentative
	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: unid_leafhopper	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_leafhopper
	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_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: unid_planthopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_planthopper
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a wet, weedy retention area.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a wet, weedy retention area.

Species Photo Gallery for Pissonotus piceus No Common Name