Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

DERBIDAE Members:	NC Records
Cedusa obscura - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: DERBIDAE
Taxonomic Author: (Ball, 1902)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: Adults are bluish overall (dark bluish-black wings with lighter blue waxy coating, characteristic of the blue Cedusas) with dark, orangeish legs. The male phallus (reproductive claspers) has two large, broad 'plates' that almost resemble clam shells, distinctive from many of the other blue Cedusas (see image above).

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern and central United States and Canada, as far west as the Rocky Mountains; also Cuba and maybe Guyana (UDEL)

Abundance: Recorded from the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont.

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 habitat near forest edge.

Plant Associates: Derbidae are known or assumed to feed on fungal hyphae as immatures (UDEL).

Behavior: Probably can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: A majority of Cedusa look very similar externally, appearing bluish overall. The only way to make a positive ID for many of the species at this point is to examine the genitalia of the males. Therefore, a male specimen is necessary for many species' identifications. Detailed, clear photographs of the male underside showing the genitalia can also be helpful, and perhaps the hope is that after observing enough specimens of a particular species, there may be slight external features that can be associated with an ID.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Cedusa obscura No Common Name
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Caught sweeping in a weedy woodland edge.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.1 mm, caught in a sweep through an open, weedy, marsh
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.1 mm, caught in a sweep through an open, weedy, marsh	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 4.1 mm, caught in a sweep through an open, weedy, marsh
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: This female was caught in the same sweep with a Cedusa obscura male, so it's likely this is also C. obscura. Habitat was an open, weedy, marsh.	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: This female was caught in the same sweep with a Cedusa obscura male, so it\'s likely this is also C. obscura. Habitat was an open, weedy, marsh.
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf Dare Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat

Cedusa obscura - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Cedusa obscura No Common Name