THE INSECTS OF AUGUST. 



209 



Among other beneficial insects belonging to the Neuroptera, 

 is the immense family of Libellulidse, or Dragon flies. The 

 Forceps-tail, or Panorpa, P. rufescens (Fig. 257), is found in 

 bushy fields and shrubbery. They prey on smaller insects, and 

 the males are armed at the extremity of the body with an enor- 

 mous forceps-like apparatus. 



The Insects of August. 



During this month great multitudes of bugs (Hemiptera") are 

 found in our fields and gardens ; and to this gi-oup of insects 

 the present chapter will be devoted. They are nearly all inju- 

 rious to crops, as they live on the sap of plants, stinging them 

 with their long suckers. Their continued attacks cause the 

 leaves to wither and blight. 



The grain Aphis, in certain years, desolates our wheat fields. 

 We have seen the heads black with these terrible pests. They 



258. Leaf-hopper of the Vine. 



pierce the grain, extract the sap, causing it to shrink and lose 

 the greater part of its bulk. It is a most insidious and difficult 

 foe to overcome. 



The various leaf-hoppers, Tettigonia (Fig. 258) and Cercsa, 

 abound on the leaves of plants, sadly blighting them ; and the 

 Tettigonias frequent damp, wet, swampy places. A very abun- 

 dant species on grass produces what is called "frog's spittle." 

 It can easily be traced through all its changes by frequently 

 examining the mass of froth which surrounds it. Tettigonia 

 vitis blights the leaf of the grape-vine. It is a tenth of an incli 

 long, and is straw-yellow, striped with red. Tettigonia rosa?, 

 a still smaller species, infests the rose, often to an alarming 

 extent. 



The Notonecta, or water boatman, is much like a Tettigonia, 

 but its wings are transparent on the outer half, and its legs are 



