[46 



AN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



Fig. 106. 



FulgoridcBy or lantern-flies. — a. Scolops 

 sulcipes : b, Pceciloptera truncaticornis ; 

 twice natural size. 



The Fiilgoridce, or " lantern-flies," contain some very remark- 

 able and striking species in tropical countries, but are sparsely 



represented by somewhat rare 

 species in our fauna. Perhaps 

 the most common of our forms 

 are species of Ormenis, pale 

 green or whitish, having some- 

 what the appearance of small 

 wedges, the broad wing-covers 

 being flattened vertically. They 

 may be found on the under side 

 of leaves of various plants, par- 

 ticularly grape, sucking the 

 juices, preferably from the larger 

 veins or ribs. None of them are 

 injurious, and the family is mentioned only that our common 

 species may be recognized. 



The " spittle- insects." or "frog-hoppers," of the family Cer- 

 copidce, resemble some forms of tree-hoppers in their habit of 



laying the eggs in little, 

 °' ■ frothy, white masses. These 



masses of ' ' frog-spittle' ' are 

 often noticed in grass lands, 

 but their true character is 

 rarely understood. Unlike 

 the "tree-hoppers," the 

 Cei'copidce never have horn- 

 like processes or projections, 

 but are usually squat, some- 

 what angular, yet flattened 

 creatures, whose popular 

 name, "frog-hoppers," has 

 been obtained by the some- 

 what fanciful resemblance of the insects to a frog when just ready 

 to leap. Few of these species, so far as I have any information, 

 are sufficiently injurious to be of economic importance. They 

 feed on a great variety of plants, but are rarely common on culti- 

 vated crops. 



It is different with the "leaf-hoppers," ox Jassidce, which are 



Cercopid, or spittle-insect. — a, larva, en- 

 larged; b, same, natural size, on a leaf bearing 

 "frog-spittle;" c, the adult, enlarged. 



