northern flatid planthopper

Northern flatid planthopper is a common, small, jumping insect. It occurs in the United States east of the Great Plains. It also occurs in southern Quebec and Ontario Canada, and in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is probably the most abundant flatid planthopper (Family Flatidae) in the eastern U.S.

Adults are active from June to October. They feed on a wide variety of woody and semi-woody species including American hophornbeam, black oak, broad-leaved dock, common hibiscus, common milkweed, common pawpaw, grape, oak, Osage orange, red mulberry, and slippery elm. They are also known to feed on a variety of ornamental and agricultural plants.

Adults are more or less wedge shaped and 3⁄16″ to ⅜″ (5.5 to 9.0 mm) in length. The body color is green, but the wings and body are moderately to densely covered with a mealy, white, waxy powder.

The upper part of the front of the head (frons) is wider than tall, and it is not strongly extended forward.

The forewings are elongate triangular. They are held parallel to the body, almost vertically, when at rest. The upper outer corner of the wing is relatively squared, not broadly rounded. There are two submarginal veins paralleling the wing margin. Numerous crossveins between the marginal vein (costa) and the first submarginal vein, and between the first and second submarginal veins, define two rows of small cells, at least near the wingtip.

The fourth segment (tibia) of each hind leg has comb-like spines at the tip and spines on the sides. The last part of the leg (tarsus), corresponding to a foot, has three segments. There are two spines on the second tarsal segment.

Total length: 3⁄16″ to ⅜″ (5.5 to 9.0 mm)

June to October

A wide variety of woody and semi-woody species and a variety of ornamental and agricultural plants.

Sources

29, 30, 82, 83.

Common

Northern Flatid Planthopper 3
PETE DOVE'S NIAGARA WILDLIFE

Alfredo Colon
8/2/2022

Location: Albany, NY