Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Pelitropis rotulata (Van Duzee, 1908) - No Common Name Sole representative of TROPIDUCHIDAE in NC			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A highly distinctive looking species, with a characteristic broad, flat head and bold wing venation that defines an oval area near the wing tips. This species is typically brownish in color, sometimes with rufous tints; the body itself has a very flattened appearance.

Nymphs of this species are also distinctive, also having a characteristic flat head. They can range in color from yellow to green, and have two bright red dots at the tip of the abdomen. Like many planthopper nymphs, there may be hairs extending from the tip of the abdomen: see here and here. For more information about nymphs of this species, see: Pelitropis.

distribution

Southeastern United States: Virginia south through Florida, west to Texas; also known from Cuba; not very abundant, but seems to be more common closer to the coast (UDEL)

abundance

Uncommon to locally common, with scattered records across the state but most encountered in the Piedmont; possibly more abundant in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been found near mixed hardwood forest habitat.

plant associates

Recorded from: Ilex (Aquifoliaceae), Baccharis halimifolia L. (Asteraceae), Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. (Elaeagnaceae, cherry silverberry), Lyonia sp. (staggerbush), Rhododendron sp., Vaccinium corymbosum L. (highbush blueberry), Vaccinium sp. (Ericaceae), Quercus phellos L. (Fagaceae), Liquidambar styraciflua L. (Hamamelidaceae), Hypericum edisonianum (Small) P. Adams & N. Robson (Arcadian St. Johnswort, Clusiaceae [was Hypericaceae]), Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. (redbay; Lauraceae), Myrica cerifera L. (wax myrtle, Myricaceae), Ligustrum amurense Carrière (Amur privet; Oleaceae), Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L. (seagrape, Polygonaceae), Prunus serotina Ehrh. (black cherr), Pyrus communis L. (common pear, Rosaceae), Ulmus alata Michx. (winged elm; Ulmaceae), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. (Virginia creeper), Vitis rotundifolia Michx. (muscadine, Vitaceae) (UDEL)

behavior

Most commonly found attracted to lights at night.

comments

This is the sole member of this planthopper family found in the United States; 3 other species can be found in the Caribbean.

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

Tangiini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Pelitropis rotulata No Common Name
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: near mixed hardwood forest habitat
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8 mm	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8 mm
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8 mm	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Yard near woods.
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54896029	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: came to UV light at night
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58048188	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58048188
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58048188	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:	Photo by: Scott Bolick Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8.5 mm, came to UV light at night	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8.5 mm, came to UV light at night
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 8.5 mm, came to UV light at night	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126008628
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/126008628	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to porch light. Suburban yard near woods.
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Kelli Ashby Durham Co. Comment: On leaf, some possible immature close by and ants	Photo by: Kelli Ashby Durham Co. Comment: On leaf, some possible immature close by and ants
	Photo by: Kelli Ashby Durham Co. Comment: On leaf, some possible immature close by and ants	Photo by: Erin Elizabeth Price-Erwin Guilford Co. Comment: Open area next to mixed hardwood forest
	Photo by: Erin Elizabeth Price-Erwin Guilford Co. Comment: Open area next to mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: on the sill of a building window

Species Photo Gallery for Pelitropis rotulata No Common Name