Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Cedusa obscura (Ball, 1902) - No Common Name DERBIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

Adults are bluish overall (dark bluish-black wings with lighter blue waxy coating, characteristic of the blue Cedusas) with dark, orangeish legs. The male phallus (reproductive claspers) has two large, broad 'plates' that almost resemble clam shells, distinctive from many of the other blue Cedusas (see image above).

distribution

Eastern and central United States and Canada, as far west as the Rocky Mountains; also Cuba and maybe Guyana (UDEL)

abundance

Recorded from the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been found in grassy, brushy habitat near forest edge.

plant associates

Derbidae are known or assumed to feed on fungal hyphae as immatures (UDEL).

behavior

Probably can be attracted at night with a light.

comments

A majority of Cedusa look very similar externally, appearing bluish overall. The only way to make a positive ID for many of the species at this point is to examine the genitalia of the males. Therefore, a male specimen is necessary for many species' identifications. Detailed, clear photographs of the male underside showing the genitalia can also be helpful, and perhaps the hope is that after observing enough specimens of a particular species, there may be slight external features that can be associated with an ID.

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 Cedusa obscura No Common Name
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: This female was caught in the same sweep with a Cedusa obscura male, so it's likely this is also C. obscura. Habitat was an open, weedy, marsh.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: This female was caught in the same sweep with a Cedusa obscura male, so it\'s likely this is also C. obscura. Habitat was an open, weedy, marsh.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.1 mm, caught in a sweep through an open, weedy, marsh
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.1 mm, caught in a sweep through an open, weedy, marsh	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.1 mm, caught in a sweep through an open, weedy, marsh
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.

Species Photo Gallery for Cedusa obscura No Common Name