Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Erythroneura bistrata - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- nominate form
© Kyle Kittelberger- color variation
© Rob Van Epps- form 'rubranota'
© Ken Childs- form 'stricta', note pale apex of
scutellum
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeTribe: Erythroneurini
Taxonomic Author: (McAtee, 1920)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A boldly marked but highly variable species with a yellow or white dorsum with a reddish-brown color pattern. All adults have an entirely dark thorax except for a pale whitish apex of the scutellum. This species has four main color forms, and then variation in-between. In the nominate form, individuals are reddish overall with mostly red wings and two white patches: one at the base of the fissure of the wings, next to the scutellum, and the other near the wing tips; there is also a white mark on the middle of the costal margin of each wing. A color variety of this form is almost entirely red, with only the white patch near the wing tips and a small spot at the base of the scutellum. Individuals of the form 'stricta' have two white bands across the wings that separate a median dark reddish-brown saddle; this dark saddle has a dagger-shaped point extending downwards on each wing; this form also has a paler tip to the head. Individuals of the form 'rubranota' have three white spots replacing the upper white band on the wing found in 'stricta'; the spots are separated by a a bold reddish-brown band extending along the clavus of each wing. The face and underside of the thorax are pale. Adults are 2.9-3.2 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007)

For additional images of variation among individuals of this species, see: BG.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Out of State Record(s)
Distribution: Central and eastern United States (3I); also recently from Quebec, CA
Abundance: Recorded from several counties in the Piedmont and mountains where it is uncommon; likely more abundant across the state in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been found in mixed hardwood forest and forest edge.
Plant Associates: Redbud (Cercis canadensis); also reported from Vitis sp. (3I)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Form 'stricta' of this species could be most confused with E. vitis (this form was actually considered a form of E. vitis for a while). However, note that in bistrata, there are noticeably pointed lateral margins of the median red band, whereas in vitis the bands lack this characteristic. More importantly though, the apex of the scutellum is dark in vitis, concolorous with the rest of the mesonotum; in bistrata, the apex of the scutellum is whitish, contrasting sharply with the rest of the dark mesonotum. For example, this inidividual of vitis looks just like var. 'stricta' of bistrata, but has a dark apex of the scutellum. In some cases, an ID may not be possible.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Erythroneura bistrata No Common Name

Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60970181		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60970181
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60970181		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60970181
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Came to UV light in back yard. 		Photo by: Ken Childs
Out Of State Co.
Comment: form 'stricta'
Photo by: Ken Childs
Out Of State Co.
Comment: form \'stricta\'		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Came to UV light.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Came to UV light.		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Came to UV light.
Photo by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv lights - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv lights - unid_leafhopperrnrngoes with the previous entry. - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: UV light - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood, open forest near lake edge
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: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: open forest habitat near a pond