304 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol, 12 



murale) growing near dried Atriplex elegans. The different phases of 

 the sexual behavior were observed through a reading glass having a 

 diameter of six inches and a long focal distance. 



During the week in which the sexual behavior was studied at Heber, 

 the beet leafhoppers began to clean their bodies before sundown 

 between 6.30 and 6.45 p. m. The wings were stroked and occasionally 

 raised with the hind legs, the middle and front legs cleaning the rest of 

 the body. Before sundown 20 adults were collected with a pipette 

 while they were engaged in cleaning movements and of this number 12 

 were males and 8 were females. Even the nymphs were aroused to 

 activity at sunset and cleaned their bodies. 



On June 8, a partial eclipse of the sun caused a drop in the tempera- 

 ture but the cleaning reaction started at 6.30 p. m. Observations at 

 Mount Wilson Observatory showed that the solar eclipse began at 2 

 minutes after 3 o'clock, and ended at 38 minutes after 5 o'clock. At 

 the turning point, 4.21 o'clock, 74 per cent of the sun's surface was 

 obscured. 



After the male has cleaned his body he may rest for a time ; he then 

 walks forward a short distance at the same time fluttering his wings ; 

 he stops suddenly for an instant and moves forward again in the same 

 manner and so on. During the week, 55 adults showing this behavior 

 were captured with a pipette before sundown and all proved to be 

 males. The males walked about on the stem, leaves and cluster of 

 seeds and when one discovered a female he sidled up to her with wings 

 elevated on one side of the body and endeavored to copulate. If the 

 female is not inclined to mate, she may kick viciously with her hind 

 legs at the male and if he persists in his attentions, she may walk or 

 fly away. The male often takes short flights in seeking his mate. 

 Sometimes a male may force his attention on a nymph and cause the 

 latter to rear up the abdomen and kick with the hind legs or the nymph 

 may walk or hop away. 



After sundown on a calm evening, both male and female adults were 

 aroused to an unusual activity and took short flights about the weed. 

 Hundreds of leafhoppers on the wing swarmed about the plants. 

 Many specimens came to rest on my clothes, face, hands and reading 

 glass, but just for a few moments and then they took wing again. 

 Twenty-three beet leafhoppers were taken on my clothes and of this 

 number 18 were males and 5 were females. 



After darkness had set in about 9 p. m. a light thrown on the Nettle 

 Leaf Goosefoot with a flash light showed that the hoppers were at rest 

 on the weed. During the nights of June 7-8, 49 specimens at rest 

 were caught and of this number 25 were males and 24 were females. 



The cleaning movements and sexual behavior were observed in sugar 



