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Thionia elliptica - No Common Name     ISSIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Scott Bolick- note wider than long vertex
© Rob Van Epps
© Scott Bolick- nymph
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
synonym
description This species varies in color from grayish to brown but is generally yellowish or greenish-tan with brown speckling. It has a characteristic vertex (top of the head) that is concave from the frontal view, with the lateral margins flared prominently, and from the dorsal view, the vertex is wider than long (BG). See here for a nice depiction of the noticeably wider than long vertex.

Nymphs exhibit a strong degree of variation in pattern and coloration, ranging from light brown to black in color and typically heavily marked with cream spots, though some individuals have a paler midline; individuals also tend to have red eyes. See W & W 1987 for more information and drawings of the nymphs of T. elliptica. (BG)

distribution Eastern and central United States, north into Ontario (UDEL)
abundance Uncommon to locally abundant, no records yet from the Coastal Plain.
seasonal_occurrence
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habitat Mixed hardwood forest, where oaks are present.
plant associates Quercus ilicifolia (bear oak, Fagaceae), Q. marilandica (blackjack oak) (UDEL); nymphs have also been found on red maple and Nyssa sylvatica (tupelo, black gum).
behavior
comments This species can be most similar to Thionia bullata. See that species page for info on how to identify T. bullata. Charles Bartlett notes "elliptica has a much shorter vertex (described as wider than long) and bullata is slightly longer than wide; also in frontal view elliptica has the lateral margins of the vertex keeled, whereas in frontal view bullata is essentially flat. Elliptica is also more robust than bullata." (BG)
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 Thioniini
subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Thionia elliptica No Common Name

Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: found on red maple		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: found on red maple
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Wilkes Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Wilkes Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Suburban yard near woods		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Suburban yard near woods
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Suburban yard near woods		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_treehopper
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: B bockhahn
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: B bockhahn
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		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: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
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Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
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Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
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Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Montgomery Co.
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Photo by: Scott Bolick
Wilkes Co.
Comment: