HOMOPTERA in 



commonly measures two inches to the tip of the closed wings; it is black 

 and green, and more or less powdered with white beneath. 



The member of this family that has attracted most attention is the 

 periodical cicada, Magicicada septcndecim. This species is commonly 

 known as the seventeen-year locust; but the term locust when applied 

 to this insect is a misnomer, the true locusts being members of the order 

 Orthoptera. This species is remarkable for the long time required for it 

 to attain its maturity. The eggs are laid in the twigs of various trees 

 by the female. Sometimes this cicada occurs in such great numbers that 

 they seriously injure small fruit trees, by ovipositing in the twigs and 

 smaller branches. The nymphs hatch in about six weeks. They soon 

 voluntarily drop to the ground, where they bury themselves. Here they 

 obtain nourishment by sucking the juices from the roots of forest and 

 fruit trees. And here they remain till the spring of the seventeenth year 

 following. They emerge from the ground during the last half of May, at 

 which time the empty pupa-skins may be found in great numbers, cling- 

 ing to the bark of trees and other objects. It is at this period that the 

 cicadas attract attention by the shrill cries of the males. The insects 

 soon pair, the females oviposit, and all disappear in a few weeks. 



Seventeen distinct broods of this species have been traced out; so 

 that one or more broods appear somewhere in the United States nearly 

 every year. In many localities, several broods co-exist, each brood 

 appearing in distinct years. There is a race of the species in which the 

 period of development is only thirteen years. This variety is chiefly a 

 southern form, while the seventeen-year broods occur in the more north- 

 ern states. 



Family Cercopid^e 

 The Spittle-insects or Frog-hoppers 



During the summer months one often finds upon various shrubs, 

 grass, and other herbs, masses of white froth. In the midst of each of 

 these masses there lives a young insect, a member of this family. In 

 some cases as many as four or five insects inhabit the same mass of froth. 

 It is asserted that these insects undergo all their transformations within 

 this mass; that when one is about to molt for the last time, a clear 

 space is formed about its body and the superficial part of the froth dries, 

 so as to form a vaulted roof to a closed chamber within which the last 

 molt is made. 



The adult insects wander about on herbage, shrubs, and trees. They 

 have the power of leaping. The name frog-hoppers has doubtless grown 

 out of the fact that formerly the froth was called "frog-spittle" and was 

 supposed to have been voided by tree-frogs from their mouths. The 

 name is not, however, inappropriate, for the broad and depressed form 

 of our more common species is somewhat like that of a frog. 



Most of the froth of spittle insects is voided from the anus but a 

 mucilaginous material excreted by large hypodermal glands on the 

 seventh and eighth abdominal segments is added to the mass which 

 renders it viscous and helps to retain the air bubbles introduced into it 

 by the insect. The froth is evidently a means of protection. 



In this family the antennae are inserted in front of and between the 

 eyes; the prothorax is not prolonged over the abdomen, as in the Mem- 



