Biology of the Membracidae of the Cayuga Lake Basin 429 



clover, and most of the common weeds on which membracids are found, 

 are in full bloom or early fruit at the time when the insects are abundant ; 

 at this time sweeping is very difficult owing to the fragile condition of 

 the flower heads and seed pods, which accumulate in the net to such an 

 extent as to make the sorting of the catch most laborious. Moreover, 

 at this season the above-mentioned plants are visited by countless 

 numbers of bees, which do not welcome the presence of the collector 

 and which make the vigorous sweeping of the plants a most unpleasant 

 operation. 



The use of the net in trees is usually out of the question. Not only 

 do the branches interfere with the sweep of the net, but in many cases 

 the hosts are thorny plants which quickly tear a net to pieces. This 

 is particularly true of locust trees, berry bushes, rosebushes, hawthorns, 

 and wild crabs, on which many species are prevalent. 



Beating has not proved a satisfactory method of collecting, altho in 

 a few cases good catches have been made by the use of a stout club and 

 a collecting umbrella. In most cases the membracids either cling too 

 tightly to the host to be dislodged, or else take flight instead of dropping 

 to the ground as in the case of many Hemiptera. In practically all 

 cases the insect leaves the branch with a quick spring when disturljed 

 or when the plant is jarred, and makes a short flight to a neighboring branch. 

 Man}^ attempts to collect in this way have resulted in the abandonment 

 of the method. 



Trap lanterns have been used with little success. Apparently few 

 membracids fly well enough or far enough to be taken in this manner, 

 or else the insects are not attracted toward the light to as great an extent 

 as are other insects. The only species taken with a trap lantern in the 

 basin have been Atymna castaneae, Cyrtolobus vau, phi derma yuhescens, 

 and Cmiipylenchia latipes, and these have been so taken only in rare 

 instances. 



By far the most satisfactory method of collecting Membracidae is 

 that which may be termed hand picking. After a little experience it is 

 not difficult to see the insect on the p'lant, especially after the habits 

 of the various species have been learned. They may be approached 

 without suspicion if care is taken to make the movements of the hand 

 slow and regular. When the hand is within a few inches of the insect 

 a quick grab secures the specimen. After a little practice individuals 



