Oct. 21. 1918 The Meadow Pla?it Bug, Mir is dolabratus 195 



may be found at the same time in the early part of summer. Thus, a 

 first-instar individual was taken on June 27 and a second-instar on July 

 5, a third on July 6; but fifth-instar individuals occurred on June 26; 

 one changed to adult on June 30, and the other fifth-instar individuals 

 were taken on July 6 and 13. Mr. Fletcher collected 10 nymphs, last 

 instar, and 33 adults, 9 males and 24 females. During the latter part of 

 the summer only adults are found, so it appears that the early stages 

 must be passed during spring and early summer. During the earher part 

 of the summer fifth-instar individuals were taken much more commonly 

 than the earlier stages, and it would seem that they remain in this stage 

 longer than the earlier instars, or else they are in position for a more 

 ready collection. Confined and furnished occasional leafhoppers as food, 

 they have been carried for a period of seven days in this stage. 



Adult females contain well-developed eggs in late summer, and while 

 there is no probability of a second generation, at least in the latitude of 

 Orono, it appears probable that eggs are laid in autumn to hatch the 

 following spring. 



The smallest individuals found and evidently of the first instar are of 

 a very delicate, almost transparent whitish color, with a length of 2.5 

 mm. and a width of thorax of about 0.6 mm. The hind tibiae are i .5 mm. 

 The antennas have four joints : First thickest, second slightly longer than 

 the first, the third the longest, a trifle longer than the second, the fourth 

 about equal to the third. The eyes are red. A conspicuous red line is 

 seen on the thorax and abdomen, with a dusky stripe at the side of the 

 thorax (fig. 5, A). 



The second-instar individuals have a length of 4 mm., with antennae 

 of 3 mm. A conspicuous dark-red median line runs from the head to the 

 tip of abdomen. A broad yellow stripe occupies the middle of the body, 

 bordered by a dusky, irregular stripe each side. Legs light yellow 

 spotted with black, tarsi black at tip. The wing pads very slightly indi- 

 cated at the outer angles of mesothorax and metathorax (fig. 5, B). 



The third instar has a length of 4.5 mm. and is a little thicker than 

 the second. The red Une along the median dorsum is conspicuous, but 

 somewhat broken and at places very slender. The antennae are dark 

 except tip of first and basal four-fifths of the second segments (fig, 5, C). 



No specimens considered as representing the fourth instar have been 

 seen. 



The final observed nymphal instar and apparently the fifth has a 

 length of 6 mm., a width at base of abdomen of about 2 mm., and is 

 elongate-fusiform in shape. The head is slender and the eyes globose. 

 Antennae slender, the first joint thickest, minutely hairy, second and 

 third about equal in length and slightly longer than first or fourth. 

 Forelegs with the femora enlarged, middle femora nearly as large as 

 the fore, the hind femora slender. The beak is 3-jointed and reaches 



