Hoppers of North Carolina:
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DELPHACIDAE Members: NC Records

Metadelphax wetmorei - No Common Name


No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Family: DELPHACIDAESubfamily: Delphacinae
Taxonomic Author: (Muir and Giffard, 1924)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: Adult macropterous (long-winged) males are around 2.93 mm long. Adults are generally yellowish tan to brownish in color, and the face is dark with pale/white ridges. The two antennal segments are pale with noticeably dark margins apically on segment I and basally on segment II, forming a dark ring at the junction of the two segments. The pronotum is pale, and the wings can be slightly fuscous with dark veins. This species closely resembles M. propinqua and Toya idonea. However, M. wetmorei is described as consistently exhibiting dark intercarinal regions compared to propinqua which has embrowned regions with dark borders on the frons: the frons in wetmorei is completely dark with white ridges, while it is brown with a black border and white ridges in propinqua. Furthermore, wetmorei tends to have a dark clypeus (lower part of the face), whereas propinqua's clypeus is pale. These features are compounded by the fact that variation occurs in the two species with regards to the face and should not be used as a definitive distinguishing feature. However, while propinqua tends to have pale antennal segments, there is a dark brown ring around the juncture of the two segments in wetmorei. T. idonea resembles both species but has a darkened face like in wetmorei and pale antennal segments like in propinqua. Furthermore, T. idonea can have brachypterous (short-winged) adults while this has not been seen in M. wetmorei; brachypterous specimens with a dark face that may represent one of these similar species are very likely to be T. idonea. It is helpful to photograph the face of individuals that may represent one of these three species, but in some cases an ID may not be possible. For images of pinned specimens from these three closely related species, see: propinqua, wetmorei, and idonea. For more information about these three species and species-specific characteristics, see: G & B 2007.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Southeastern United States where it is uncommon (UDEL)
Abundance: Recorded from a couple counties in the mountains and coastal plain, probably more abundant in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Probably in grassy habitats
Plant Associates: ?
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment:
Status: Native
Global and State Rank: