23 THE KEPORT OF THE No. 36 



The Hemiptera includes the true bugs: cicadas, treehoppers, spittle insects, 

 lantern flies, plant lice, and scale insects; the sub-order Homoptera all the above 

 except the true bugs. 



The Homoptera can be readily divided into two groups; (1) those in which 

 the beak clearly arises from the head and (2) those in which the beak arises 

 apparently from between the front legs or is absent. 



Our Cercopidae belong to the first group and have associated with them: 



The Cicadidw —cicadas. 

 The Flufforidw—lanteTn flies, etc. 

 The Membracidw — tree-hoppers. 

 The Cicadelliaw — leaf-hoppers. 



Funkhouser has given their phylogenetic rank, beginning with the lowest, 

 as follows: 



1. Cicadidae. 5, Fulgorldce. 



2. Membracidae. 5. Cercopidae. 



3. Jassidae. 



The Cercopidae differ from the Jassidae by having only one or two teeth 

 instead of a row of spines on their hind tibiae. They differ from the Membracidae 

 by not having their pro thorax prolonged into a horn or point above the abdomen. 

 They differ from the Fulgoridae by having the antennae inserted in front of and 

 between the eyes instead of being inserted on the sides of the cheeks beneath the 

 eyes. 



According to Uhler the Cercopidae have characteristics which mark an im- 

 portant advance in the direction of the higher sub-order Heteroptera. Let us 

 itemize the important features which lead to this decision. 



1. The large size of the pronotum or pro thorax is in contrast to the small 

 one in the Fulgoridae and is not a phantastic ornament like that in the Mem- 

 bracidae. According to Uhler it is an important regional portion, exercising 

 various important functions. 



2. The increased freedom of the anterior coxae thereby approaching a walking 

 insect. 



3. The terminal portion of the wing covers being moral)ranous and trans- 

 parent suggesting the Heteroptera. 



4. The hind tibiae having only one or two short stout sj^ines. 



In some respects therefore the Cercopidae represent the highest and most 

 specialized forms of the Homoptera, and although most students consider the 

 Fulgoridae to be the highest and most specialized there is evidence in favor of 

 the Cercopidae occupyiiig the position. 



So much then for their rank. They are members of a sub-order approaching 

 the higher sub-order and exhibiting interesting links between the two. 



I have not yet observed the eggs and have read but few details of what tliey 

 are like. They are slightly curved and cylindrical and are said to be deposited in 

 the stems of grasses, plants and twigs. 



The Cercopidae like other Hemiptera develop gradiiallv, undergoing a series 

 of moults and the young exhibit the characteristics of the adult, becoming more 

 like it at each moult or instar, of which there are five. 



They most likely hibernate here both in the adult stage and in the egg. 



I have taken adults on May 24th of Lepijronla quadratn/ularl^, and on June 

 20th Philacnus spumarius. 



