66 INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



Natural Enemies. — So far no internal parasites of this pest are 

 known. The larvae of the California green lacewing (Chrysopa cali- 

 fornica Coq.) devour the young nymphs. Ladybird beetles also prey 

 upon the young, but are of little consequence in the matter of control. 



THE BLUE SHARPSHOOTER 



Tettigoniella circellata (Baker) 



( Tettigonia circellata Bakei') 



(Fig. 55) 



Description. — The color of the adults varies from dark-green to deep 

 bluish-green with bright blue markings on the head and sometimes on 

 the wings and venter. The legs, 

 abdomen and scutellum are light 

 yellow or orange. The tip and base 

 of the ventral surface of the abdo- 

 men are often blue. There are black 

 markings on the head, thorax, scutel- 

 lum and bases of the front wings, 

 the veins of which are also black. 

 The hind wings are smoky or black. 

 The length averages £ inch. The 

 immature forms are light green. 



Life History.— The life history of 

 this species has never been worked „.„„„,,_,_, 



i ,, ■ o,. ml t ,. Fig. 55. — The blue sharpshooter, 



OUt tor this State. The adults Tettigoniella circellata (Baker). En- 

 appear early in the spring, and con- lar & ed three times. (Original) 

 tinue to breed throughout the summer. The insect is quite prolific and 

 is often responsible for much damage to crops in California. 



Nature of Work. — The young and adults feed upon the foliage, 

 extracting the juices with their small, sharp rostrums or beaks, thus 

 causing yellow, sickly-looking plants, which are sometimes greatly 

 weakened or stunted by their attacks. 



Distribution.— The blue sharpshooter occurs throughout the State 

 and is most abundant in the central and southern parts. 



Food Plants.— This species is a very general feeder, attacking a 

 great many plants. Among those recorded are: blackberry, elder, 

 grape, hollyhock, lemon, orange, raspberry and sunflower. On grape- 

 vines it is sometimes more destructive than is the grape leaf-hopper. 



Control.— The control measures are the same as for the grape leaf- 

 hopper. 



PSYLLID^ (Family) 



JUMPING PLANT LICE 



The adults of the members of this family greatly resemble minute 

 cicadas and also appear somewhat like large winged plant lice. They 

 differ from the former in having the proboscis rising from the mid- 

 dle of the sternum and being much smaller, and from the latter in 

 having the hind femora greatly developed, enabling them to jump 





