Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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Clastoptera obtusa - Alder Spittlebug     CLASTOPTERIDAE Members: NC Records Public View

© Kyle Kittelberger- side view; note dark face
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger- darker
individual
© Kyle Kittelberger- paler individual
synonym
description A highly variable species ranging in color from brown to almost black. The facial features are the only completely defining characteristics of this species, as the upper half of the face is pale while the lower half is dark brown to black (interestingly, this individual has part of the face pale below the black). The head is typically pale, almost a grayish white, with several bands, usually an orange or reddish color. The body itself has a whitish band that goes across the wings, forming an upside down "V" when viewed from above. Males are 3.6-4.7 mm long while females are 4.0-5.2 mm long (BG). The nymph is pale with dark legs and a dark face.
distribution An abundant species found throughout most of North America, from warm areas in the Rockies where alder grows to temperate eastern North America (BG).
abundance Uncommon, with a majority of records in the mountains and Piedmont where it can be locally abundant. Probably more abundant in the right habitat with host plants.
seasonal_occurrence
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habitat This species has been recorded recently from mixed hardwood forest and a pine forest with lots of shrubby vegetation.
plant associates C. obtusa has been found on over two dozen different deciduous trees and shrubs, including alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), hazelnut (Corylus), hophornbeam (Ostrya), and walnut (Juglans) (BG). This species has also been found on Solidago, Tilia americana, and Acer saccharinum (DL).
behavior Can be attracted at night with a black light.
comments
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
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subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera obtusa Alder Spittlebug

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; male
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; male		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment: sandhills (pine forest) habitat with lots of shrubby vegetation; male
Photo by: Bockhahn, Scharf
McDowell Co.
Comment: LAJA - 2014 BioBlitz NYMPH, Found in Spittle of Alder Tree		Photo by: Bockhahn, Scharf
McDowell Co.
Comment: LAJA - 2014 BioBlitz NYMPH, Found in Spittle of Alder Tree
Photo by: Bockhahn, Scharf
McDowell Co.
Comment: LAJA - 2014 BioBlitz NYMPH, Found in Spittle of Alder Tree		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Caldwell Co.
Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping; note facial feature
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Caldwell Co.
Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Caldwell Co.
Comment: found during the day, caught while sweeping
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: open area near mixed hardwood forest; dark individual		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: attracted at night with a light		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I’ve lights
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: moth sheet		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840402
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840402		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840402
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51840418		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52211845
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52211845		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53113743
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53113743		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
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.
Comment:
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.
Comment:
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.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
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: B. Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_spittlebug
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Found on Smooth Alder. 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Found on Smooth Alder.
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 4.7 mm total length		Photo by: Michael P. Morales
Cumberland Co.
Comment: xeric, edge of mixed forest on the edge of the Carolina Sandhills