Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

FULGORIDAE Members:	NC Records
Scaralina marmorata - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: FULGORIDAE

Subfamily: Poiocerinae

Tribe: Poiocerini

Synonym: Calyptoproctus marmoratus

Taxonomic Author: Spinola, 1839

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist
Description: A very distinctive and recognizable species that is highly variable (but localized) in color, with the body and anterior portions of the wings usually mottled with lichen-green, brown, and black coloration. The wings are reticulated with darker veins surrounding translucent wing cells, with dark markings on the basal half of the first claval vein interrupted; there is also a continuous dark transverse patch from the costa to the clavus, with pale crossveins. The base of the wings can show the lichen green and black color pattern found on the thorax, and there can be tiny red flecks along veins; there are many costal crossveins. The head is not strongly produced, being rather flat with eyes narrower than the pronotum, and the eyes are narrower than the pronotum. The sides of the face are parallel, and the frons has a broad pale upper margin that is otherwise dark below this; the clypeus is variable but is typically palest in the center and apically. The dark spots of the vertex are posterior in position, with restricted black markings very well-defined. The pronotal spots are well-defined, and the mesonotum center is largely pale (though it can be variably dark-marked). The legs are relatively long, especially the hind legs. The ninth abdominal tergite of the female is elongate, usually hiding the tenth and eleventh tergite; sternites are typically pale tan or basally black. Adults are about one inch in length and resemble small flattened cicadas. (UDEL, Yanega et al., 2024) UDEL of the species are pale greenish overall with darker mottling and dense pale pinkish nodules. These nymphs are fairly flat and have a white face with two bold, black transverse bands.

Distribution in North Carolina

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

Distribution: Eastern United States, from Virginia south to Florida and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma. Routinely found at lower elevations, with all but three confirmed records for the species found below 1200 m. (UDEL, Yanega et al., 2024)

Abundance: Uncommon to locally common, with records across the state (though primarily the Piedmont and mountains) but not encountered frequently.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Found in deciduous forests.

Plant Associates: Probably oaks (Yanega et al., 2024) such as Quercus nigra (BG).

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species, and the genus itself, underwent a massive taxonomic revision recently with Yanega et al., 2024. This is the only member of the species-group within the genus that is routinely found at lower elevations, with all but three confirmed records for the species found below 1200 m, and the reduction of notal pubescence in marmorata is unique to the species (Yanega et al., 2024).

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Scaralina marmorata No Common Name
	Photo by: Stan Gillam Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: Stan Gillam Guilford Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Stan Gillam Guilford Co. Comment:	Photo by: T. DeSantis Durham Co. Comment: ENRI
	Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff Buncombe Co. Comment:	Photo by: J. Allen Ratzlaff Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Found at moth sheet	Photo by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: Attracted to 15W UV lamp
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light.
	Photo by: K. Bischof Transylvania Co. Comment: GORG	Photo by: Erin Price-Erwin Guilford Co. Comment: I am unsure if this is a Calyptoproctus marmoratus because I have not been able to find pictures of nymphs for reference.
	Photo by: Erin Price-Erwin Guilford Co. Comment: I am unsure if this is a Calyptoproctus marmoratus because I have not been able to find pictures of nymphs for reference.	Photo by: Erin Price-Erwin Guilford Co. Comment: I am unsure if this is a Calyptoproctus marmoratus because I have not been able to find pictures of nymphs for reference.
	Photo by: Erin Price-Erwin Guilford Co. Comment: I am unsure if this is a Calyptoproctus marmoratus because I have not been able to find pictures of nymphs for reference.	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: It landed on the moth sheet and ran up the sheet and left. Barely got a photo. It was big over 1/2 inch long, at first I thought it was a big fly! - unid_planthopper

Scaralina marmorata - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Scaralina marmorata No Common Name