310 FOREST ENTOMOLOGY. 



Subfamily TYPHLOCYBID^. 

 Genus Typhlocyba. 



This genus is perhaps the most important as regards forest insects, 

 and kindred associations in several orchard or garden plants. These 

 may be beaten in showers from the foliage of pear-trees, roses, elm, 

 and alder. They are small yellowish insects, about the usual size of 

 Aphidida?, with elytra much larger than the body, but at once show by 

 their active leaping powers that they differ from them. On examin- 

 ation with the lens or microscope they appear beautifully marked, 

 with bright-coloured spots on the light-yellow bodyground. 



Typhlocyba ulmi (Linn.) 



This species may be selected as a typical insect. The head is 

 yellowish or greenish-yellow, with dark conspicuous eyes, and slender 

 antennae which taper to the finest point. The thorax is also yellowish, 

 with dark transverse markings. The abdomen is divided into eight 

 segments or somites, each of which is ornamented with a dark trans- 

 verse marking, thus giving the insect a general appearance of being 

 black and yelloAV. The upper wings or elytra are coriaceous, and the 

 veins can only be slightly discerned with the microscope. The wings, 

 or under wings, are lighter in colour and less coriaceous. They are 

 longer than the body. The legs are yellowish, and slightly hairy. 

 (See figs. 289 and 290.) 



Mr Fred. V. Theobald has recently Avorked out the life-history of 

 one of these insects, and the following extract is taken from his 

 writings : — 



" The Oak axd Fruit Leaf-hoppeh. 



"Typhlocyba quercus, Fabr. 



" Typlilocyha flammigeva, Amyot. 



" Like all members of this family, the insect passes the winter in 

 either the adult or nymphal stages. Hibernation takes place in any 

 sheltered position. One may find them amongst fallen leaves at the 

 foot of hedgerows, in box hedges, amongst moss and lichens on 

 trees, and abundantly amongst conifers. In spring they appear 

 again, and feed upon the young leaves. In June they were first 

 noticed in numbers : possibly between their exit from winter quar- 

 ters and June a generation had appeared. It was not until July 



