Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Forbes, S.A., 1885) - Aster Leafhopper CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A yellow to yellowish-green species, sometimes with faint smoky markings on the wings, with a bold head pattern. It has narrow wings and [typically] 6 bold black marks on the head: 4 lines (hence quadrilineatus) and 2 spots posterior to the lines (this species used to be known as the Six-spotted Leafhopper). Sometimes the number of marks is reduced to just 4 or 2 bold ones, with the spots not present on every individual (they can disappear partly); additionally, the boldness of the head markings can vary. The vertex is broad, being more than twice as wide as long and rounded anteriorly in both sexes. The scutellum has two small black triangles in the upper corners, though these 'triangle's can sometimes be reduced to just a small black base/line; in other individuals, the scutellum is entirely green. This species has very long wings for the genus, longer than related species, with the wings 4.5 x as long as wide. The subgenital plates have 7-9 macrosetae on each side. Adult males are 3.1-4.0 mm long, while females are 3.4-4.3 mm. (Hamilton 1983, Kwon & Kwon, 2022)

Nymphs are greenish with some dark coloration, especially on the wing pagds. The crown shows black markings similar to those found on adults. For an image of a nymph associating with an adult, see: BG.

For additional images of this species, including diagrams, see: 3I.

distribution

Found throughout North America (Kwon & Kwon, 2022)

abundance

Scattered records across the state where it is uncommon, likely more abundant in the right habitat, especially agricultural areas.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been found in grassy, brushy areas. Abundant in agricultural areas as well.

plant associates

Asters and corn; polyphagous (BG). Also from grasses and cereals, potato, lettuce, and rice (Kwon & Kwon, 2022).

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a black light.

comments

This species is a major agricultural pest and disease vector, and is one of the most common leafhoppers found in U.S. corn. It can transmit the semipersistant maize chlorotic dwarf virus and the persistent diseases maize rayado fino maya virus (MRFM), corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS) and maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBSP) (UF), as well as oat blue dwarf, American aster yellows, and horseradish brittle-root (Kwon & Kwon, 2022).

This species is part of the quadrilineatus complex, which consists of many similar species occurring throughout North America. Records previously labeled as M. fascifrons, which has now been synonymized with this species, have been entered here correctly as quadrilineatus. (Kwon & Kwon, 2022)

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

Macrostelini

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Macrosteles quadrilineatus Aster Leafhopper
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: grassy habitat	Photo by: UDCC Swain Co. Comment: as M. divisus; (24-XI)-(18-XII)-2001 Malaise Trap11, MT1120011218\r\nQuantity: 3 females, 1 male
	Photo by: UDCC Swain Co. Comment: as M. divisus; (24-XI)-(18-XII)-2001 Malaise Trap11, MT1120011218rnQuantity: 3 females, 1 male	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male, 3.5 mm Walking along the muddy edge of a large pond I flushed a dense flurry over the course of 20 meters, one half-hearted sweep yielded 31.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male, 3.5 mm Walking along the muddy edge of a large pond I flushed a dense flurry over the course of 20 meters, one half-hearted sweep yielded 31.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male, 3.5 mm Walking along the muddy edge of a large pond I flushed a dense flurry over the course of 20 meters, one half-hearted sweep yielded 31.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male, 3.5 mm Walking along the muddy edge of a large pond I flushed a dense flurry over the course of 20 meters, one half-hearted sweep yielded 31.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male, 3.5 mm Walking along the muddy edge of a large pond I flushed a dense flurry over the course of 20 meters, one half-hearted sweep yielded 31.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: male, 3.5 mm Walking along the muddy edge of a large pond I flushed a dense flurry over the course of 20 meters, one half-hearted sweep yielded 31.
	Photo by: J. B. Sullivan Yancey Co. Comment:	Photo by: J. B. Sullivan Yancey Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Lior Carlson Orange Co. Comment:
	Photo by: UDCC Swain Co. Comment: as M. divisus	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.8 mm female came to UV/CFL light combo at night
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment: female	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment: female
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment: female	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment: female
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: came to UV light at night set up over athletic field turf	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Using beat sheet	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Using beat sheet
	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Cold but mostly sunny, temp about 45.

Species Photo Gallery for Macrosteles quadrilineatus Aster Leafhopper