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

Erasmoneura vulnerata - No Common Name



© Kyle Kittelberger

© Rob Van Epps

© Kyle Kittelberger- red
individual

© Scott Bolick- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeTribe: Erythroneurini
Taxonomic Author: (Fitch, 1851)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A dark leafhopper with a reddish-brown color pattern, sometimes with a brighter red or green hue. The extensive brown patches on the wings and head are characteristic of this species; the brown color sort of resembles the color of dried-blood (hence 'vulnerata') (BG). Some individuals however have very vibrant red wings and sometimes a red head and thorax. There are small pale spots on the side of an otherwise dark head with a pale midline; these pale spots resemble white stripes next to the eyes. The pronotum and mesonotum are also mostly dark, and the anteclypeus is brown or black. There is a white patch on the costal margin of the wings, and the wing tips are a dark brown. The underside of the thorax (the mesosternum to be exact) is dark, the rest is pale. Adults are 2.7-3.2 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007)

For more images of this species showing the array of variation, see: BG.

Nymphs are reddish-brown with yellowish markings dorsally, divided by a yellowish stripe. The underside of the abdomen is a bold red color; the legs are yellow.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Central and eastern United States, southeastern Canada, and northern Mexico; also introduced in parts of Europe (3I)
Abundance: Recorded across the state, with a majority of records from the Piedmont where it is common; likely abundant across the state in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Recorded from mixed hardwood forest, forest edge, and grassy areas.
Plant Associates: Vitis riparia, Vitis sp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Ilex decidua, Cercis canadensis, Aesculus sp., Ulmus alata, among others (3I); has also been found on Black Gum.
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: The nominate form of E. fulmina could be confused with E. vulnerata. E. vulnerata has a similar pattern to that of fulmina but is typically not as uniformly dark. It has pale lines on the head, rather than small pale spots, and there are slight differences in the wing pattern.

The species can create leaf damage from feeding, causing it to be a pest species (particularly in areas where introduced). Damage appears as speckled whitish lesions (Rizzoli et al., 2020).

Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Erasmoneura vulnerata No Common Name

Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.7 mm, found indoors
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Suburban yard near woods.
Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: Attracted to 15W UV lamp
Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.6 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.6 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.6 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: red form
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386723
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386723
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53386723
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: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv lights
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv lights
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to ultraviolet light.
Photo by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment:
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
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat. One red individual
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat