220 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



has been felt in the attempt to answer the question of Dr. Wiesmann, as 

 to the duration of hfe of some of our insects in their perfect state. It 

 would also be of service in the determination of the number of annual 

 broods ; it would afford a knowledge of the time for guarding against the 

 initiative of insect attack ; it would enable us in many cases to decide 

 upon the best time for putting in our crops ; it would enable collectors to 

 seek for specimens for their cabinets when they are to be found ; in 

 short, it would furnish an essential part of the life-histories of our species. 

 I commend it to the attention of Entomologists. 



ON THE APHIDID^ OF FLORIDA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS 



OF NEW SPECIES. 



(Paper No. 2.) 



BY W^M. H. ASHMEAD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. 



Family Psyllidae (Jumping Plant-lice). 



The species belonging to this interesting family have received very 

 little attention from Entomologists generally, and considering the extent 

 of the North American fauna, comparatively few species have been 

 described. Of these almost nothing is known of their habits and 

 development. 



In Europe, with the exception of two or three species, as little is 

 known of their life histories as in America. Kollar, in his Treatise on 

 Insects Injurious to Gardens, &c., according to Westwood, vide Intro- 

 duction, vol. 2, p. 437, gives the history of two species. As I do not 

 possess this work, I am unable to state which these are or how much of 

 their history is known. 



According to this author, and probably one of those referred to by 

 Westwood, the Pear Tree Psylla, Psylla pyri Linn., " comes forth from 

 its winter retreat provided with wings, as soon as the buds of the fruit 

 trees begin to expand. After pairing, the female lays her eggs in great 

 numbers near each other on the young leaves and blossoms, or on the 

 newly formed shoots. The eggs are oblong, yellowish, and look somewhat 

 like grains of pollen. The young insects, soon after they are hatched, 



