Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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Penthimia americana (Fitch, 1851) - No Common Name     Cicadellidae Members: NC Records Public View

© Kyle Kittelberger- male, note blackish color
© Kyle Kittelberger- male, note head shape
© Rob Van Epps- female, note head shape
© Kyle Kittelberger- female, note orange color
synonym
description A somewhat dark reddish-brown to black species, with fuscous and/or blackish coloration, and a rounded body profile. Males are blackish overall with hints of orange, especially around the scutellum. Females are orange but have a dark band across the back of the wings. The head is over half as long at the middle as the basal width of the crown between the eyes and does not noticeably project past the eyes when viewed from the side (it appears quite rounded and downcurved); the head is more of a pentagon-like shape, without a defined projecting apex. The apical wing cells and posterior parts of subapical cells are hyaline ochreous, with dark venation and dark suffusions in the central areas of these wing cells. The female pregenital sternite is slightly notched on either side of a produced posterior median lobe. Male subgenital plates are broad and triangular. Adults are 5.0-6.0 mm long. (DeLong 1942, 1948, Beirne 1956)

Young nymphs are a mixture of dark and light coloration, while older nymph instars are orange (though some are darker). Nymphs have the characteristic head profile of the adults.

For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser.

distribution Eastern North America, east of the Rocky Mountains (Zahniser)
abundance Scattered records across the state, uncommon and infrequently encountered.
seasonal_occurrence
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habitat Woodlands, shrubby areas, and openings, such as cut-over areas, which have oaks (DeLong 1942, 1948)
plant associates Oaks (Quercus spp.), hickory and other shrubs (DeLong 1923); gray birch (Betula populifolia; Lowry 1933)
behavior
comments NOTE: This genus is very unique among the leafhoppers in the area, as it does not look like a typical leafhopper and instead resembles a spittlebug (Cercopids, in particular Clastoptera). However, note that there are spines on the sides of the legs, which spittlebugs lack.
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 Penthimiini
subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Penthimia americana No Common Name

Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Out Of State Co.
Comment: NCSU specimens; male (dark) and female (orange)
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Found during the day resting on leaf of American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana).		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Found during the day resting on leaf of American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana).
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Found during the day resting on leaf of American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana).		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Bladen Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64322657
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Bladen Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64322657		Photo by: J. Thomson
Madison Co.
Comment: On a plant on the bank of Big Laurel Creek
Photo by: J. Thomson
Madison Co.
Comment: On a plant on the bank of Big Laurel Creek		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_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: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Guilford Co.
Comment: