Clastoptera pallidocephala
Doering, 1929
Clastoptera pallidocephala is a of spittlebug in the Clastopteridae, first described by Doering in 1929. It belongs to a whose larvae are known as spittlebugs, producing protective froth masses on plants. The species epithet "pallidocephala" refers to a pale or light-colored . This species has been recorded in the southwestern United States.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Clastoptera pallidocephala: //klæˈstɒptərə ˌpælɪdoʊsəˈfɑːlə//
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Distribution
Recorded from Arizona, California, and New Mexico in the southwestern United States.
Ecological Role
Based on documented records for the Clastoptera, larvae produce spittle masses that may serve as microhabitats for other small organisms. The has been identified as prey for the digger wasp Clitemnestra bipunctata, which provisions nests with paralyzed spittlebugs.
More Details
Predator documentation
Listed among prey items in excavated nests of Clitemnestra bipunctata, a crabronid that hunts spittlebugs, leafhoppers, and related Hemiptera.