466 T. V. SUBRAMANIAM. 



with two very small tubercular projections, one on each side, at the anterior extremity, 

 and a semicircular sht-like opening in the middle of the cephalothorax ventrally. 

 The ventral portion of the cephalothorax behind this slit-Uke opening is sKghtly 

 arched, and its terminal portion is elongated, V-shaped and black in colour. The 

 dorsal part of the cephalothorax rests against the abdomen of the host, and is as 

 broad as the ventral part, but only half as long. Its posterior extremity ends in 

 a very uneven serrated edge, the serrations pointing outwards. Both the V-shaped 

 ventral and the serrated dorsal end of the cephalothorax, as also the six-segmented 

 abdomen, are buried permanently in the abdomen of the host. Thus only the anterior 

 portion of the cephalothorax is found projecting from the pleuro- ventral side of the 

 abdomen of the host, generally towards the anal end. 



As the ova develop and the larvae are formed, the ovisac occupies the major 

 portion of the abdominal cavity of the host (PL xv, fig. 4). Over 1,000 larvae 

 were counted coming from a single ovisac. These larvae are very small, active, 

 fish-like creatures of a pale yellow colour, with two long bristles on the last abdominal 

 segment (PI. xv, fig. 5) ; thev were observed suddenly shooting out into space 

 through the slit opening on the ventral side of the cephalothorax of the female, 

 which projects from the abdomen of the hopper. This was noticed in a hopper a 

 few minutes after its death. The mode of the entry of the larvae into living hoppers 

 has not yet been observed. 



The male puparium is seen as a small globular brown body, very much resembling 

 one end of the pupa of a Muscid fiy, with a cap anteriorly, on the pleuro-dorsal side 

 of the hopper (PL xvi, fig. 6), partly covered by the wings of the latter. The major 

 portion of the remainder of the pupa is buried in the abdomen of the host. Generally 

 only one individual is found in a hopper, but sometimes two or three males and 

 females are found in the same insect, especially in /. atkinsoni, which species is 

 very heavily parasitised. The male puparium is sometimes foimd on the ventral side 

 of the abdomen. 



Before the emergence of the adult male, the two large compound eyes and the 

 head are clearly visible through the pupal shell. The male pushes out the cap-like 

 anterior extremitv and escapes, leaving the pupal case projecting from the abdomen 

 like a cyhnder. the hoppers survive only a few days after the emergence of the male. 

 The adult males are dark, very slender,' active creatures with a pair of large wings 

 (PL XV, fig. 1). The antennae are seven-jointed, the terminal five joints each 

 broadened and fohaceous. The insects are very active in flight, and are able to 

 crawl slowly on the sides of a glass beaker, they lived only eight to ten hours 

 after emergence from the pupae in captivity. 



/. niveosparsiis has never been found stylopised ; 30 per cent, of 7. atkinsoni 

 and 15 per cent, of /. clypealis were found parasitised in one year. Misra mentions 

 (Pusa Memoirs, v, pt. 2, 1917, p. 124) a Stylopid parasite of the sugar-cane leaf- 

 hopper. The parasite of the mango leaf-hoppers appears to be quite different. 



3. The Epipyropid Moth {Epipyrops fidiginosa, Tarns, sp. n.).* 



The ovipt)sition of this moth on the hoppers has not yet been observed. The 

 caterpillar is small and cream-coloured, and is found attached by the anal end to the 

 side of the last thoracic segment of the hopper underneath the wings, with the head 

 facing posteriorlv (PL xvi, fig. 4) . The full-grown caterpillar is as long as the abdomen 

 of the hopper (3-3-5 mm. long and 2 mm. thick), and the body is thick and stout 

 towards the head, which is found very close to the anal end ; but in young larvae 

 the head reaches only to about one-third or one-fourth of the length of the abdomen. 

 AH the three species of hoppers are parasitised. 



* For the description of this species see p. 468. 



