108 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [xxxii, '21 



Gargara genistae Fabr., a European Membracid in 

 New Jersey (Homop.). 



By HARRY B. WEISS and EDGAR L. DICKERSON, 

 New Brunswick, N. J. 



The following notes are the results of observations made 

 during the past two years on Gargara genistae found inhabiting 

 Caragana arboresccns at Springfield and Milburn, New Jersey. 

 The species was identified by Mr. Funkhouser, who stated that 

 it was very common in Europe and northern Asia, but had 

 never before been reported from the United States. The host 

 Caragana arboresccns Lam., is a shrub or small tree reaching 

 a height of 20 feet. In Bailey's Encyclopedia of Horticulture, 

 its native home is given as Siberia and Manchuria. The mem- 

 bers of the group to which C. arboresccns belongs are known 

 as pea trees. They are really ornamental shrubs grown on 

 account of their bright yellow flowers. More than fifty species 

 are known from south Russia to China, most of them being 

 in central Asia. They grow in almost any kind of soil, but best 

 in that which is sandy, and in sunny places. Gargara genistae 

 was undoubtedly, introduced into New Jersey in the egg stage 

 with its host, as it was found in nurseries at both of the above 

 mentioned localities. 



According to observations made in New Jersey, overwin- 

 tering takes place in the egg stage, the eggs being deposited 

 during the latter part of July, in the two-year old wood. They 

 were found in groups of 2 to 6, usually 4 or 5, in the bark 

 tissue at more or less right angles to the grain. Each whitish, 

 elongate egg rests close to and parallel with its neighbor and 

 the bark over each group of eggs is raised or swollen some- 

 what like a small blister. As a rule, one side of the swelling 

 where the eggs are inserted becomes cracked longitudinally 

 and somewhat whitish. 



Hatching takes place during the second week of June and 

 the combined nymphal stages require about one month, the 

 adults emerging and becoming plentiful during the second, 

 week of July. The young nymphs are somewhat greenish and 

 resemble closely the color of the bark. As they become older, 



