INJURING THE LEAVES. 123 



above, as it is not a thrips at all, but a true leaf- 

 hopper. It is a beautiful little creature, about one- 

 tenth of an inch long, yellow with bright reel mark- 

 ings, and of the form represented at Plate III, Fig. 5 

 (p. 84). " They make their first appearance," says 

 Dr. Harris, " on the leaves in June, when they are 

 very small and not provided with wings, being then 

 in the larva state. During most of the time they 

 remain perfectly quiet with their beaks thrust into 

 the leaves, from which they derive their nourishment 

 by suction. If disturbed, however, they leaj:> from 

 one leaf to another with great agility. As they in- 

 crease in size they have occasion frequently to change 

 their skins, and great numbers of their empty cast- 

 skins, of a white color, will be found throughout the 

 summer adhering to the under sides of the leaves, 

 and upon the ground beneath the vines. When 

 arrived at maturity, which generally occurs during 

 the month of August, they are still more agile than 

 before, making use of their delicate wings as well as 

 their legs in their motions from place to place ; and 

 when the leaves are agitated they lea}) and fly from 

 them in swarms, but soon alight and begin again 

 their destructive operations. The infested leaves at 

 length become yellow, sickly, and prematurely dry, 

 and give to the vine at midsummer the aspect it 

 naturally assumes on the approach of winter. In 

 autumn the leaf-hoppers desert the vines, and retire 

 for shelter during the coming winter beneath fallen 

 leaves, and among the decayed tufts and roots of 



