Biology of the Membra cidae of the Cayuga Lake Basin 397 



previous paragraphs of this study, so that here only the general methods 

 of locomotion need to be mentioned. 



The insects fly well for short distances, with a sharp, whirring flight 

 which in most cases is too rapid and too erratic to be followed by the eye. 

 The flights, however, are seldom sustained for any great distance. The 

 longest measured flight of any of the local species was made by a female 

 of Telamona unicolor, which flew fifty yards' from one tree to another in a 

 rather irregular course, swinging for several feet from one side to the other 

 of a straight line in the flight. Specimens of Atymna castaneae have been 

 taken about electric lights, and it is evident that this species has the 

 power of remaining on the wing for some little time. Since the membracids 

 have large, powerful, well-developed wings, there seems to be no reason 

 why they should not be capable of long, sustained flight unless they are 

 handicapped by the weight and size of the over-developed pronotum. 

 Buckton (1903:207) has called attention to the fact that the Membracidae, 

 in spite of their abnormal pronotal structures, seem to have no difficulty in 

 locomotion, and states on the authority of Mickeljohn that even the 

 species Bocydium glohulare, which is one of the most bizarre of the tropical 

 forms, " flitted from one shrub to another without difficulty or apparent 

 laboured flight." The fact remains, however, that even the local forms, 

 which are far less embarrassed by grotesque appendages than are the 

 exotic species, are unable to handle themselves in a creditable fashion 

 tho the mechanism and development of their wings are excellent. It 

 seems very reasonable to conclude, therefore, that the shape, size, and 

 weight of the enormous pronotum proves more of a handicap to the insects 

 than has been supposed. Certainly the Membracidae are far inferior 

 to the closely related families Cicadidae, Fulgoridae, Jassidae, and Cer- 

 eopidae in the matter of flight. 



In the matter of jumping, the Membracidae seem to use this method of 

 locomotion only when leaving the twig for flight. The insect leaves its 

 support with a quick snap, which is apparently accomplished by means of 

 the powerful hind legs tho the movement is entirely too rapid to be 

 diagnosed by observation. The spring from the support on which the 

 insect has rested seems to carry it for some little distance before the wings 

 are spread. There is, however, no true leaping, or hopping, from twig 

 to twig or from leaf to leaf in any species that has been studied in the 

 field. 



