516 The University Science Bulletin. 



should be obtained before such relationships are determined. To 

 this end this small contribution is made. 



The writer wishes to express her appreciation to all who have as- 

 sisted in this work: To Prof. S. J. Hunter for his interest and readi- 

 ness to help; to Dr. Paul B. Lawson, under whose direction the work 

 was done, and who, at the sacrifice of his own research time, gave 

 most helpful advice and criticism; to Dr. Grace M. Charles for the 

 correct identification of most of the host plants ; to Lucy M. Hack- 

 man, Dr. H. B. Hungerford and P. A. Readio for their kindly help 

 and criticism, and to all others who in any way have assisted in this 

 work. 



THE SYSTEMATIC POSITION. 



FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS. 



The Cercopidse are distinguished from the other families of Ho- 

 moptera by having three-segmented tarsus, two ocelli, the antennse 

 inserted in front of and between the eyes; the prothorax not pro- 

 longed backward, and the hind tibiae armed with one or two stout 

 teeth, with two rows of short, stout spines at the tip. 



SUBFAMILY CHARACTERISTICS. 



The Cercopidse are divided into two subfamilies — Cercopinae Am. 

 & Serville, and Aphrophorinse Am. & Serv. Lepyronia quadrangu- 

 laris (Say) comes within the latter. According to Ball (1898) the 

 Aphrophorinse are separated from the Cercopinae by the following 

 characteristics: Anterior margin of the pronotum angulate; head 

 equaling or almost equaling the pronotum in width; elytra com- 

 pressed behind, rarely reticulate. 



HISTORICAL REVIEW. 



This insect has been described under various genera. It was first 

 made known to science by Say in 1825 as Cercopis quadrangularis. 

 In 1831 is! was put in the genus Aphrophora by Say, and in 1851 in 

 the genus Ptyelus by Walker. Amyot and Serville (1843) described 

 it under the genus Lepyronia, which name it now holds. 



GENERIC DESCRIPTION. 



The original description of the genus by Amyot and Serville is 

 as follows: "Corps court et remasse. Tete en cone arrendi anteri- 

 eurement, sans carene longitudinale mediane sur le vertex ni sur le 

 front. Elytres bombees, en ovale court et en forme de coquille. Les 

 autres caracteres sont ceux des Aphrophores. Du gree /^-'V'Sr, 

 coquille d'oeuf." 



