132 



INSECT ARCHITECTUKE. 



M. Pontedera, who studied the economy of the tree- 

 hoppers with some care, was anxious to see the insect 



Ovipositcrs, with tiles, of Tree-hopper, uiagnilied. 



itself make use of the ovipositor in forming grooves in 

 wood, but found that it was so shy and easily alarmed, that 

 it took to flight whenever he approached ; a circumstance 

 of which Reaumur takes advantage, to soothe his regret 

 that the insects were not indigenous in his neighbourhood. 

 But of their workmanship, when completed, he had several 

 specimens sent to him from Provence and Langnedoc by 

 the Marquis de Caumont. 



The gall-flies, when about to deposit their eggs, select 

 growing plants and trees ; but the tree-hoppers, on the 

 contrary, make choice of dead, dried branches, for the 

 mother seems to be aware that moisture would injure her 

 progeny. The branch, commonly a small one, in which 



. -^ .^>. -^-^ 





>X 



k^_._^ 



Excavations for eggs of Tree-hopper, with the chip-lids raised. 



eggs have been deposited, may be recognised by being 

 covered with little oblong elevations caused by small 



