DESCRIPTION OF THE BEET LEAFHOPPER. 23 



as that of their size. More commonly they are of a creamy white, 

 with irregular areas of brown about the abdomen. These brown 



areas vary greatly in the amount of pigmentation, so that in general 

 appearance the color ranges through pale cream, buff, light redcli-li 

 brown, and deeper and deeper browns until some seem almost black; 

 a few have distinctly red marking-. 



Several other species of leaf hopper commonly found on beets 

 closely resemble Eutcttic tenelhi in size and color, and few but 

 trained entomologists can readily distinguish between them. 



The beet leafhopper is single brooded and begins to deposit its tiny 

 white eggs in the stems and midribs of beet leaves from about the 

 end of June — the time doubtless varying somewhat with the locality 

 and local climatic conditions — until the end of August. Probably 

 the majority of the eggs are deposited by the middle of July. The 

 nymphs begin to appear about the second week in July, and the 

 writer has observed their appearance in considerable numbers in 

 Idaho as late as the end of August. Slitdike scars are produced on 

 the beet stems where the egg> have been deposited: sometimes these 

 ovipository scars are very numerous and conspicuous. The egg stage 

 appears to last about fifteen days, and the young insects reach the 

 adult stage in about twenty days more. These adults hibernate and 

 resume their activity the following spring. In Utah and Idaho they 

 have been seen on weeds in May and on beets near the end of May 

 or early in June. The greater portion of the nymph stage appears 

 to be spent among the inner leaves and petioles of the plant, where 

 the egg is hatched, and as the insect approaches the adult stage it 

 gradually works outward. 



The beet leafhopper is an exceedingly active insect: its favorite 

 mode of locomotion is by hops of lightningdike rapidity. The range 

 of its leap seems to be about 18 inches. The adult while on beets uses 

 its wings but little. In common with several closely related species 

 it is a true sucking insect: it is provided with powerful head parts 

 and a stout bill. The latter when not in use is tucked snugly against 

 the under side of the body. 



The writer is indebted to Dr. E. D. Ball for much of the data in 

 regard to the life history, habitat, host plants, etc.. of the leafhopper. 

 and would refer the reader to the works of this writer for many 

 interesting details and technical descriptions (4. 5. and 6). 



a A discussion of this species is given in Bulletin 76, Bureau of Entomology, 

 and a brief practical discussion entitled "Preparations for Winter Fumigation 

 for the Citrus White Fly" in Circular 111 of the same Bureau. The latter 

 may be obtained free on application to the Secretary of Agriculture. 

 181 



