290 W. D. FUNKHOUSER 



The species has been taken commonh^ on thistle and is found on practi- 

 cally all the species of this plant growing in the basin. It also lays its 

 eggs and undergoes its entire life history on joe-pye weed (Eupatorium 

 purpureimi L.) and on sunflower. 



The eggs are laid in a double row on the underside of the leaf, one row 

 on each side of the midrib. The eggs are very small and white and the 

 ends project slightly from the surface. The number of eggs varies con- 

 siderably and is often much larger in one row than in another. Ovi- 

 position requires about an hour. The process has first been observed on 

 July 1. The eggs hatch in about two weeks and the nymphs reach maturity 

 in a little over three weeks, the instars averaging about five days each. 

 The nymphs of the first two instars remain very quietly on the leaf just 

 above the eggs from which they have emerged, and the three other instars 

 are hardlj^ less quiet, remaining crowded on the leaf and showing little 

 activity even when disturbed. After the last molt the insects are very 

 soft-bodied and are generally white; the nymphal skins remain hanging 

 to the tomentose surface of the leaf. In a few hours the insects begin to 

 change color and creep about over the plant. The colors vary greatly, 

 ranging from white to black. The insects are very sluggish and make 

 no attempt to fly, but drop to the ground when disturbed. The nmnber 

 . that may be found on one host plant is surprising, 232 having been taken 

 from one thistle on August 21, 1913. They usually crowd closely together 

 on the underside of the leaf, with their heads pointing toward the base of 

 the leaf. Mating and oviposition take place soon after the insect reaches 

 maturity. The second period of oviposition occurs about the last week 

 in August and the nymphs from these eggs mature before cold weather 

 sets in. 



Miss Branch (1913) has recorded that the species E. sinuata undergoes 

 but four molts in Kansas, and believes that molting cannot be accom- 

 plished without the presence of attending ants. Neither of these points 

 has held true for the local species. The insect shows the usual five instars 

 and successfully reaches maturity in the breeding cage when no ants are 

 present. 



Locally there are two broods a year. So far as has been ascertained, 

 no eggs winter over but the winter is passed in the adult stage. Sifting 

 in the late fall and early spring shows adults in the humus beneath the 

 plants, which become active when brought into warm surroundings. 



