HOMOPTERA 



401 



BB. Tarsi usually one- jointed ; adult male without any beak, and with only 

 two wings; female wingless, with the body either scale-like or gall-like in 

 form, or grub-like and clothed with wax. The waxy covering may be in the 

 form of powder, of large tufts or plates, of a continuous layer, or of a 

 thin scale beneath which the insect lives, p. 440 Coccid^ 



Family CICADID^ 



The Cicadas 



The large size and well-known songs of the more common species 

 of this family render them familiar objects. It is only necessary to 

 refer to the periodical cicada and to the harvest- 

 flies, one of which is represented by Figure 467, 

 to give an idea of the more striking character- 

 istics of this family. We have species of cicadas 

 much smaller than either of these; but their 

 characteristic form is sufficient to distinguish 

 them from members of the other families of 

 this order. 



The species are generally of large size, with 

 a subconical body. The head is wide and blunt, 

 with prominent eyes on the outer angles, and 

 three bead-like ocelli arranged in a triangle be- 

 tween the eyes. The structure of the mouth- 

 parts is described on an earlier page and illus- 

 trated by several figures; and the form and 

 venation of the wings are shown by Figure 461. 



But the most distinctive peculiarity is the form p. , ™ ., . , . 



of the musical organs of the males; an example of f/^j 

 these is described and figured on pages 89 to 91. 



The family Cicadidae is well represented in this country ; seventy- 

 four species, representing sixteen genera, are now listed from our 

 fauna. The two following species will serve as illustrations. 



There are several species of cicadas that are commonly known as 

 dog-day cicadas or harvest-flies; the most abundant of these is the 

 species that has received the popular name of the lyreman; this is 

 Tibicen linnet (Fig. 467). The shrill cry of this species, which is the 

 most prominent of the various insect sounds heard during the latter 

 part of the summer, has brought its author into prominent notice. 

 This insect varies both in size and colors. It commonly measures 50 

 mm. to the tip of the closed wings; it is black and green, and more or 

 less powdered with white beneath. The transformations of this 

 insect are similar to those of the following species, except that it 

 probably completes its development in a much shorter period. It 



