HOMOPTERA 



409 



Fig. 478. — ^Antenna of Megamelus notula. 

 Hansen.) 



(Aftei 



Fig. 479.- 

 Scolops. 



The Brazilian lantern -fly has been studied by many more recent 

 observers, and all have failed to find that it is luminescent. It may 

 be that the individuals observed by Madame Merian were infested 

 by luminescent bacteria, 

 as has been observed to 

 be the case occasionally 

 in certain other insects. 

 No member of this fam- 

 ily is known to be liimi- 

 nescent. 



The Chinese candle- 

 fly, Fulgoria candeldria, 

 is another very promi- 

 nent member of this family, which is commonly represented in col- 

 lections of exotic insects and is often figured by the Chinese. This 

 too has been reputed to give light. 



Certain fulgorids found in China excrete large 

 quantities of a white, flocculent wax, which is used by 

 the Chinese for candles and other purposes. 



There does not seem to be any typical form of the 

 s>body characteristic of this family. The different genera 

 differ so greatly that on superficial examination they 

 appear to have very little in common. The most 

 useful character for recognizing these insects is the 

 form and position of the antennce. These are situated 

 on the side of the cheeks beneath the eyes; the two 

 proximal segments, the scape and pedicel, are stout (Fig. 478); the 

 clavola consists of a small, nearly pear-shaped basal segment and a 

 slender, segmented or un- 

 segmented, bristle-like ter- 

 minal part. The pedicel is ,.«»^ \ (^ 

 provided with niunerous 

 sense-organs. 



So far as numbers are 

 concerned this family is 

 well represented in our 

 fauna, three hundred fifty- 

 seven species and seventy- 

 seven genera having been 

 listed; but our species are 

 all small compared with the 

 exotics mentioned above. The following of our native genera will 

 serve to illustrate some of the variations in form represented in this 

 country. The species all feed on the juices of plants. 



Scolops. — In this genus the head is greatly prolonged (Fig. 479), as 

 with the Chinese candle-fly. Our more common species, however, 

 measure only about 8 mm. in length. 



Otiocerus. — In this genus the body is oblong; the head is com- 

 pressed, with a double edge both above and below. Otiocerus coque- 

 bertii (Fig. 480) is a gay lemon-yellow or cream-colored species, with 



Fig. 480.- 

 ler.) 



-Otiocerus coquebertii. (From Uh- 



