The Leaf-HopperS 



are distinguished from the restricted Jassidae by the position of 

 the ocelli. Among the leaf-hoppers which may be especially 

 mentioned are the green spindle-shaped species of the genus 

 Diedrocephala which are found abundantly in pasture lands, one 

 species ( D. mollipes) occurring commonly in the salt marshes of 

 the Atlantic States. The forms belonging to the genus Proconia 

 are rather widely distributed and one of them (P. undata) is 

 ''esponsible for most of the stories of " weeping trees " which 



Fig. 139. — Erythroneura vitis. 



(After Marlatt.) 



are seen m the newspapers. These insects in all stages (and the 

 species of several other genera have a similar habit) eject a spray 

 of fluid from the anus when disturbed and, when occurring abun- 

 dantly upon trees, if the tree be shaken what seems almost like a 

 light shower of rain will fall. One of these " weeping tree mys- 

 teries," so-called, in Texas some years ago "set the state agog 

 with various explanations of the phenomenon, ranging from the 

 superstitious credence of the supernaturally inclined to the posi- 

 tive denial and derisive laughter of the constitutionally skeptical." 

 It took a brave newspaper reporter to solve the mystery, since he 

 alone dared to chmb the tree and investigate. The common 

 'eaf-hoppers of the grape-vine, erroneously called by grape- 

 growers " Thrips," are known as Erythroneura vitis and Typhlo- 

 cyba vitifex. They frequently cause the leaves of grape-vines to 

 curn brown and wither. Agallia sangninolenta prefers open 



244 



