Explanation of Names
Rhynchomitra Fennah 1944
Greek rhynchos 'snout' + Latin mitra 'turban'
Numbers
3 spp. in our area, 5 total
(1)
Rhynchomitra lingula (Van Duzee, 1908): atlantic and gulf coasts, NY to TX
Rhynchomitra microrhina (Walker 1851): throughout eastern U.S.
Rhynchomitra recurva (Metcalf, 1923): FL, LA, NC, SC, TX
Extralimital
Rhynchomitra cubanensis (Melichar, 1912): Cuba (misplaced to genus)
Rhynchomitra mexicana Fennah, 1944: Mexico (Veracruz)
Identification
Planthoppers of North America
Genus Rhynchomitra Fennah, 1944 says:
North of Mexico, one of only 3 macropterous, ‘green’ (in life) genera. Tegula not carinate, head upcurved (both unlike Nersia); pronotum deeply notched (shallowly in Mitrops).
Among North American forms, R. ligula is easily recognized by the much shorter head. Rhynchomitra microrhina and R. recurva are harder to separate. Metcalf (1923) claims:
Cephalic process slender, intermediate carinae of frons nearly parallel, “plates” (gonoplacs) longer than the ovipositor (fig. 560)… R. microrhina
Cephalic process stout, nearly parallel sided; intermediate carinae of the frons not parallel; ovipositor slightly longer than the “plates” (fig. 561) … R. recurva
