HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Hoppers (Auchenorrhyncha) » Cicadas, Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, and Treehoppers (Cicadomorpha) » Spittlebugs (Cercopoidea) » Clastopterid Spittlebugs (Clastopteridae) » Clastoptera » obtusa complex (Clastoptera obtusa complex) » Alder Spittlebug (Clastoptera obtusa)

Species Clastoptera obtusa - Alder Spittlebug

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Hopper on paper birch - Clastoptera obtusa

Pennsylvania Treehopper - Clastoptera obtusa

Clastoptera on Sycamore - Clastoptera obtusa

Clastoptera obtusa ? - Clastoptera obtusa

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Auchenorrhyncha (True Hoppers)

Infraorder Cicadomorpha (Cicadas, Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, and Treehoppers)

Superfamily Cercopoidea (Spittlebugs)

Family Clastopteridae (Clastopterid Spittlebugs)

Genus Clastoptera

No Taxon (obtusa complex)

Species obtusa (Alder Spittlebug)

Explanation of Names

Clastoptera obtusa (Say, 1825)

Cercopis obtusa Say, 1825

Aphrophora obtusa Say (1830)

Ptyelus obtusus Walker (1851)

Size

♂ 3.6-4.7 mm, ♀ 4.0-5.2 mm(1)

Identification

variable in color; the dark lower half of the face is the only defining character.

Range

most of NA (NS-AB to GA-NM)(2)

Food

found on 20 different deciduous trees/shrubs, incl. alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), hazelnut (Corylus), hophornbeam (Ostrya), walnut (Juglans)...

Remarks

Abundant in warm areas east of the Rockies where alder grows, throughout temperate eastern NA(1)

Print References

Say, T. 1825. Descriptions of new Hemipterous insects collected in the expedition to the Rocky Mountains, performed by order of Mr. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under command of Major Long. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 4: 339.

Internet References

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (3)

Discover Life (4)

Works Cited

1.	The Spittlebugs of Canada. Homoptera: Cercopidae Hamilton, K.G.A. 1982.

2.	Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska Maw, H.E.L., R.G. Foottit, K.G.A. Hamilton and G.G.E. Scudder. 2000. NRC Research Press.

3.	BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems

4.	Discover Life: Insects

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 2 February, 2005 - 1:03pm
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz, Mike Quinn, ceiseman, v belov, John Pearson
Last updated 15 November, 2015 - 4:27am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version