Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Scaphytopius frontalis - Yellowfaced Leafhopper


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view; note dark color
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view; note short head
© Kyle Kittelberger- note yellow face
© Kyle Kittelberger- male and female
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: Deltocephalinae
Taxonomic Author: Van Duzee 1890
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: This species is very dark (the darkest member of the genus) with black wings that have white areolar spots scattered throughout the wings (not restricted to the apical third). The thorax and head are also black, with the latter having a small pale triangular tip to the vertex; the head is also relatively short and is not sharply pointed. Some females are a dark brown rather than black. Both sexes have the characteristic yellow face that strongly contrasts with the rest of the dark body. The male subgenital plates are almost as long as the pygofers, being elongate and somewhat triangular with concave rounded lateral sides near the base. The female pregenital sternite is roundedly produced on the posterior margin. Adults are typically 4.0-4.5 mm long, with males smaller than females and reaching as low as 3.8 mm in length. (DeLong 1948), (Hepner 1947)

Nymphs resemble the adults, having a dark body with a yellowish face.

For diagrams of this species, see: Zahniser.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Common and widespread in eastern and central North America, it ranges as far south as Mexico and as far west as Utah [at least] (Hepner 1947)
Abundance: Widespread but uncommon in the state with scattered records in all three regions.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in grassy, weedy, brushy areas and forest habitat.
Plant Associates: Has been recorded on Solidago (goldenrod), Vitis rotundifolia, etc.; Heterotheca subaxillaris, wild blackberry (Rubus spp.), Oak trees, clover, alfalfra, grasses, woody shrubs, etc. are listed as host plants (Hepner 1947).
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: NOTE: It is important to photograph the face of individuals of this species so that they can be distinguished from similar Scaphytopius. Males of S. nigrifrons can resemble S. frontalis but differ in the wing pattern (fewer white areolar spots on the wing in nigrifrons) and more importantly in the color of the face: black in nigrifrons, yellow in frontalis.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Scaphytopius frontalis Yellowfaced Leafhopper

Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Iredell Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy field.		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Iredell Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy field.
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: 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: 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: 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: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: caught with 2 others while beating Common Ragweed, 4.3 mm
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: caught with 2 others while beating Common Ragweed, 4.3 mm		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: caught with 2 others while beating Common Ragweed, 4.3 mm
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47920868		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: FKW
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Avery Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy field-type habitat in old christmas tree farm		Photo by: Paul Scharf, B. Bockhahn
Yancey Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Mitchell Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy vegetation in the open on the top of the mountain; the bald
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Mitchell Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy vegetation in the open on the top of the mountain; the bald		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Mitchell Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy vegetation in the open on the top of the mountain; the bald
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Vance Co.
Comment: Found in grassy field/forest edge habitat		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweping		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweping