426 SYNOPTIC COLLECTION. 



begins, and usually several hours pass before the insect 

 is ready for its aerial life. It is to be noticed that during 

 the transforming process the wings lie flat on the back 

 before they slope, roof-like, at the sides. 



The development of our species of cicada is acceler- 

 ated so that it is accomplished in two years. The larva 

 has a shortened cylindrical body like a grub. The seg- 

 ments of the thorax are unequal in size, the metathorax 

 being much narrower than the prothorax or mesothorax, 

 and the segments of the abdomen are tapering. 



The fore wings of the adult cicada and of all Homop- 

 tera differ from those of the Heteroptera in being mem- 

 branous throughout, as seen in Nos. 1058, 1060, 1063. 

 The adult male produces the shrill piercing note so often 

 heard in July and August. This sound is made by 

 means of two " drums " on the lower side of the basal 

 part of the abdomen. These drums are covered by flaps 

 which are much larger in the male (No. 1060) than in 

 the female (No. 1061). In Cicada tibicen Linn. (= pru- 

 inosa Say) (No. 1064) there is a white pubescence on 

 the lower side. 



The Homoptera include insects that have become 

 modified in most peculiar ways. For instance in the 

 lantern fly, Fulgora, (No. 1065) the forward part of the % 

 head is greatly enlarged and extends in front, forming a 

 rostrum which is luminous at night. A nearly related 

 form, Hotinus, (No. 1066) is armed on the head with a 

 long curved horn, which appears to be an organ of of- 

 fence and defence. 



The most specialized of the Hemiptera are the Aphi- 

 des (No. 1067, Aphis) and the scale insects or Coccidae. 

 The life history of the hop-plant aphis, Phorodon Jiumuli 

 Schrank, has been worked out more fully than that of 

 many species. 



Whether we begin with the fertilized egg or with the 

 sexually mature male and female, we are dealing with 

 specialized conditions, since in this Aphid the fertilized 



