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

Microcentrus caryae - Hickory Stegaspidine Treehopper


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Fred Coyle- note rounded pronotum
© Fred Coyle
Taxonomy
Family: MEMBRACIDAESubfamily: StegaspidinaeTribe: Microcentrini
Taxonomic Author: (Fitch, 1851)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A dark gray to blackish species, sometimes with rusty brown posterior tips of the wings and brown venation near the tips; some individuals can appear rusty brown or quite pale. The pronotum itself is small and noticeably rounded, with a bulging appearance. The key characteristic for this species is the lack of horns/projections that are found in M. perditus.

Nymphs are distinctively flat in appearance, with legs angled outwards on the sides. The abdomen and thorax of nymphs are broad, and color can range from rusty to gray.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Eastern North America; not a frequently encountered species (BG).
Abundance: Uncommon, scattered records across the state; uncommon. Seasonal distribution: 7 May-4 December (CTNC)
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Mar
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Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been found near mixed hardwood forest.
Plant Associates: Carya illinoinensis, Carya sp. (CTNC)
Behavior: To listen to the male courtship call for this genus, listen here. These courtship calls are not audible to the human ear, and the calls here are produced by recording the substrate vibrations that the treehoppers use to communicate through the plants themselves. The recorded call is then amplified so that it is now audible to human ears. Research has shown that treehoppers use vibrations to attract mates, to announce the discovery of a good feeding site, or to alert a defending mother to the approach of a predator (T.IM).
Comment: Can be attracted at night. This species is not tended by ants.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Microcentrus caryae Hickory Stegaspidine Treehopper

Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Fred Coyle
Jackson Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Fred Coyle
Jackson Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Fred Coyle
Jackson Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Fred Coyle
Jackson Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Fred Coyle
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv light. Thought it would be an easy ID? - unid_planthopper		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv light. Thought it would be an easy ID? - unid_planthopper
Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: grassy area near mixed hardwood forest and a pond