Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

Clastoptera achatina - Pecan Spittlebug CLASTOPTERIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

This species has a distinctive yellow head and back with contrasting brown wings. The pronotum and scutellum are completely yellow, and the yellow continues onto the base of the wings, forming almost a yellow border between the pronotum and rest of the wings. The upper part of the face is concolorous with the head, while the lower part of the face is black. Males, which are 3.7-4.1 mm long, are characterized by having a dark brown band across the rear of the wings, most noticeable when viewed from above: see here for a male. Females, which are 4.5-5.0 mm long, lack this brown band. Like other Clastoptera, there is a small black dot at the rear lower corner of the wings. (BG)

Nymphs are bicolored, with a dark brown head and thorax and a pale yellowish body. Note, this pattern is similar to that of C. proteus, but nymphs of that species will be found on different vegetation.

distribution

Found from southern Ontario south throughout the eastern United States, west to Colorado and New Mexico. There are also records from California and Mexico (BG).

abundance

Uncommon, recorded from scattered locations across the Piedmont and mountains, but probably more abundant across the state in the right habitat, where hickories are present.

seasonal_occurrence

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

habitat

Has been recorded from mixed hardwood forest and open forest habitat.

plant associates

Hickory and pecan trees (Carya sp.), has also been recorded Solidago, Alnus, and Gleditsia (DL).

behavior

Can be attracted at night with a light

comments

This species sometimes contributes to twig dieback in the Midwest (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

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera achatina Pecan Spittlebug
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Ashe Co. Comment: Attracted to Light	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; male
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond; dark individual, maybe female?
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Randy L Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: tiny little thing.	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: on lights.
	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: found dead and stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on Willow Oak
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: found dead and stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on Willow Oak	Photo by: Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment: Attracted to black light.
	Photo by: Lior Carlson Orange 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_spittlebug

Species Photo Gallery for Clastoptera achatina Pecan Spittlebug