Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Flexamia areolata - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE

Subfamily: Deltocephalinae

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A distinctively marked small, greenish leafhopper; nothing else looks like this Flexamia. This species has greenish wings (the rear half has a reddish tint), thorax, head, and eyes (the top half). Oblique black dashes on the wings are 'reflexed' crossveins, turning inward; this is characteristic of Flexamia. This is the only member of this genus with bold black "eyes spots" on the wings (BG). The underside of the abdomen, face, and eyes is black. The female pregenital sternite has the posterior margins concave on each side of an apically notched, convex median projection; the posterior margin is sinusoidal. The male genital plates are elongate, gradually narrowing to the apex. Adult males are 2.6-3.2 mm long, while females are 3.2-4.0 mm. The nymph has a greenish abdomen and thorax, with a broad brown stripe down the middle. The abdomen is reddish, and the underside of the body is black, like the adult. (Whitcomb & Hicks 1988) 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: Throughout most of eastern and central North America, possibly as far west as Arizona

Abundance: This species has been recorded recently from a couple counties in the Piedmont; it is locally common at Kerr Lake State Park in Vance county. Possibly more abundant in the state 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 in grassy, brushy field type habitat on forest edge.

Plant Associates: A specialist on lovegrass, Eragrostis spectabilis (BG)

Behavior:

Comment: The black "eye spots" on the wings mimic the small seeds of its host plant, lovegrass (BG).

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Flexamia areolata No Common Name
	Photo by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Vance Co. Comment: KELA	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest	Photo by: Paul Scharf, Kyle Kittelberger Vance Co. Comment: Nymph, Caught sweeping
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/forest edge habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/forest edge habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/forest edge habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Vance Co. Comment: Field/forest edge habitat

Flexamia areolata - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Flexamia areolata No Common Name