Species Platycotis vittata - Oak Treehopper

Orig. Comb: Centrotus vittatus Fabricius 1803

One of three species in the genus.

Length 9 mm.; length including horn 13 mm (Dozier 1920)

Grayish spotted with yellow, or turquoise with red stripes and red eyes. With or without a thorn-like horn.

This species may be easily distinguished from all our other species of membracids (except Umbonia and Lephopelta) by its very short posterior tarsi. It usually has a long compressed pronotal horn which varies greatly in length and may be entirely absent. The wing venation shows considerable variation. Green body color, mottled or speckled with orange. (Dozier 1920)

Hornless version: Horned version:

Its Nearctic range is in a horseshoe shape, taking in the mid-Atlantic states, the southeastern states, the Deep South, Arizona, California, and Oregon. Present in some midwestern states such as Ohio, but lacking in the Plains states and Rockies. The species has been reported from Vancouver Island in Canada. It has also been reported from Mexico and Brazil.

Forests and forest edges, parks, and anywhere Oak trees are found. Occasionally found on other trees, but these individuals were probably just resting on those non-Oak trees.

Can be found at almost any time. Active in the South during winter, but probably not active then in the Northern states.

In Central Texas, found primarily March-May on Oaks. (1)

Fairly common on deciduous and evergreen oaks, Quercus spp.

Hatching occurs in Spring in the South, and in late Spring in the North. Larva pass through five instars, and adults and larva form aggregations along oak twigs of up to 100 individuals. Females seem to exhibit protective behavior, keeping predators away from the young.

Does almost no damage to the host trees—leaves only a few twig scars from oviposition.

There are four named varieties and several other color variations, and some individuals lack the pronotal horn.

P. minax is a smaller, pale yellow species which is found in California on oak. (Dozier 1920)

Umbonia crassicornis - Southern Florida and southern Texas on ornamental and fruit trees

Dozier, H.L. 1920. Notes on the genus Platycotis Stal. Ohio Journal Science 20: 209-212. Full PDF