178 AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 



of this family. In this genus the body is short and plump, some- 

 times nearly hemispherical; 'the species are small, our common forms 

 ranging from 3 mm. to 6 mm. (0.12 to 0.24 inch) in length. Clastop- 

 tera protcus is a conspicuous species on account of its bright yellow 

 markings. It varies greatly in color and markings; but the most 

 striking forms are black, with three transverse yellow bands, two on 

 the head and one on the thorax; and with the scutellum and a 

 large oblique band on each wing-cover yellow. Another common 

 species is Clastoptera obtiisa. This occurs on black alder in summer 

 and autumn. " It is of a claret-brown color above, marked with two 

 pale bands on the vertex, two on the prothorax, and a wavy, broader 

 band on the wing-covers. The membrane is often whitish, the. 

 waved band is extended exteriorly, and there is a pale V-shaped 

 figure on the end of the scutellum." 



Family X.— Jassid.t:.* 

 ( Leaf -hoppers. ) 



This the highest family of the Homoptera is a very extensive one. 

 And it is also of considerable economic importance; for it includes 

 a number of species that are very injurious to vegetation. The body 

 is more slender than in the preceding family; with which this agrees 

 in the insertion of the antennae in front of and between the eyes, 

 and in the absence of a prolongation of the prothorax above the 

 abdomen. But the most salient character which distinguishes the 

 Jassidae is the structure of the hind tibiae. These are nearly or 

 quite as long as the abdomen, curved, and armed with a row of 

 spines on each margin. The form of the body " is commonly long 

 and slender, often spindle-shaped, with a large transverse prothorax 

 not much wider than the head. The front is generally an oblique, 

 cross-ribbed, inflated prominence, with the cheeks touching the 

 anterior coxae, but rarely, if ever, restraining their movement. They 

 have a rather large triangular scutellum ; the wing-covers curve over 

 the sides of the abdomen, appear as tapering towards the tip, and 

 the membrane is distinguished from the more leathery corium." 

 (Uhler.) 



The Jassidae are able to leap powerfully ; and, as they are more 

 often found on the leaves of herbage and on grass than elsewhere, 

 they have been termed leaf-hoppers. 



Jassidae, Jassus : Jassus, a proper name. 



