Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Eratoneura ardens - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE	Subfamily: Typhlocybinae	Tribe: Erythroneurini
Taxonomic Author: (McAtee, 1920)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A species with a fairly distinctive color pattern. Adults typically have reddish-orange or brown wing and body markings, though this can sometimes be a yellow color (the colors themselves are a result of the age of the hopper, with mature individuals being darker, redder in color). The key characteristic is the dark, almost black scutellum; this dark color often times extends onto the pronotum. Some individuals have a dark reddish-brown color pronotum that is still noticeably dark compared to the rest of the body; other individuals lack the dark color completely. The top of the head has two orange-red parallel submedial lines, often with a lateral branch (resulting in a circular pale spot to either side of the lines); the midline is pale. In individuals with a non-dark pronotum, there is a Y, V, or M-shaped mark; this mark is dark red, with yellowish-orange patches. The face and underside of the thorax are pale. The wing markings are not connected to one another. Adults are 2.7- 3.1 mm long. (3I) For more images of this species, see: BG.

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Distribution: Eastern and central North America (3I)

Abundance: Recorded recently from a few counties in the Piedmont where it is very uncommon, probably more abundant in the right habitat.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been found near mixed hardwood forest habitat.

Plant Associates: Elms: Ulmus alata, Ulmus americana, Ulmus rubra. Has also been taken from Caryata ovata and Ilex decidua, and Aesculus sp., among others. (3I)

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species has several color varieties, one of which is known as 'insolita.' Individuals that lack any dark coloration on the scutellum and pronotum likely cannot be identified with analyzing a male specimen.

Dark individuals of this species could be confused with dark E. nigriventer. Nigriventer has a paler, less uniformly dark scutellum and pronotum, whereas [dark] individuals of ardens tend to have a uniformly blackish-brown scutellum that extends onto the pronotum. See ardens and nigriventer for comparison of specimens.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Eratoneura ardens No Common Name
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2 mm, dead, stuck on a tree band on oak	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2 mm, dead, stuck on a tree band on oak
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.5 mm male, dead, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.5 mm male, dead, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.5 mm male, dead, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Yard near woods.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Came to UV light. Yard near woods.	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment:
	Photo by: T. DeSantis Durham Co. Comment: ENRI	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 2.7mm
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted to Black Light; younger adult	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted To light. Warm evening, in low 50s degrees	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Attracted To light. Warm evening, in low 50s degrees
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat

Eratoneura ardens - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Eratoneura ardens No Common Name