Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Scaphoideus nigrellus DeLong & Mohr 1936 - No Common Name CICADELLIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

This is the darkest member of this genus. This species has blackish wings (the amount of black varies among individuals, but this species looks dark to the naked eye) with rufous and bluish-gray patches. The head and thorax are also a mixture of black, bluish-gray, and yellow, and there are bricklicke black spots on the pronotum, characteristic of this species (BG). The scutellum can show three square-shaped black marks, one in each corner, with a fourth, triangle-shaped black mark in the middle. The underside of the abdomen is black while the legs are pale. Nymphs are completely black except for their pale legs.

distribution

Eastern United States

abundance

Recorded recently from a few counties in the mountains and Piedmont, probably more abundant in the right habitat.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been found in brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest.

plant associates

Native vines

behavior

Probably can be attracted at night with a light.

comments

This species was recently treated as a synonym of Scaphoideus titanus (1). However, these specimens are visually distinctive, being much darker than other Scaphoideus, including titanus. Additionally, J. Kits notes the following: "I am confident that what [is being called] S. nigrellus is distinct from S. titanus, although I’m not entirely sure nigrellus is the right name for it. We have barcodes which are clearly distinct from titanus, and there seem to be subtle differences in the genitalia. More work is needed to figure out the limits in variation and work out the correct name. (BG)" Therefore, for now, these will be kept as separate species on this site.

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

Scaphoideini

subgenus

Scaphoideus

Species Photo Gallery for Scaphoideus nigrellus No Common Name
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest; one nymph
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest; one nymph	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: brushy, grassy vegetation surrounded by forest; one nymph
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Watauga Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Ashe Co. Comment: collected by Bo Sullivan; females
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Ashe Co. Comment: collected by Bo Sullivan; females	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Ashe Co. Comment: collected by Bo Sullivan; females
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: 7.0 mm	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: 7.0 mm
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: 7.0 mm

Species Photo Gallery for Scaphoideus nigrellus No Common Name