LEAFHOPPERS OF THE SUGAR BEET. 35 



THE BEET LEAFHOPPER. 

 (Eutettix tenella I'.nker. ) 

 DESCRIPTIVE. 



The adult (PI. I, fig. 1, a) is a small, pale yellowish-green species, 

 little larger than an Empoasca or Typhloc}^ba, Avith which it might 

 easily be confused in the field were it not for the stouter build and 

 greater activity, ^^'^len fresh or when flying this leafhopper appears 

 almost white, and for this reason it has often been called the "Avhite 

 fly." (Wing, PI. I, fig. 1, c; genitalia, PI. I, fig. 1, d, e.) 



The eggs (PL I, fig. 1, /) are white, elongate, slightly curved and 

 tapering at one end, and are thrust into the leaf stem in a slightly 

 dowmvard direction. At first ih^iy are scarcely visible (PI. I, fig. 

 1, g), but as the stem grows they are pushed out with the opening up 

 of the injured spot initil at hatching time they are often half free 

 (PI. I, fig. 1, A). After the eggs hatch, the agg, scars continue to en- 

 large and remain throughout the season as irregular, elongate, crater- 

 like swellings (PI. I, fig. 1, i). The eggs are deposited on all parts of 

 the leaf stem, usually one in a place. In the cages thej^ were often 

 placed close together, very likely in this case by different insects, 

 however, and a number were inserted into the midrib and secondary 

 veinlets of the leaf and a few into the leaf margin near the base. 



The nymphs (PI. I, fig. l^h) are very active, pale creamy white or 

 variously colored forms. The commonest form is pale creamy in 

 color with a brown saddle on the middle of the abdomen and various 

 mottlings on the prothorax and wing-pads. Some have the same pat- 

 tern with a reddish ground color, more are creamj'^ yellow, and occa- 

 sionalh' one is seen with a broad and somewhat irregular dark stripe 

 down the back. AVhen small the nymphs will be found most com- 

 monl}' down in the unfolding leaves at the center of the beet, but as 

 they grow older they sjiread out oA'er the plant. 



.-OI) PLANTS. 



The original food plant of this species is still in doubt. In the 

 spring it was found on greasewood (Sarcobatus), sea-blite (Dondia), 

 several species of Atriplex, Russian thistle, and rarely on other plants 

 of these two families occurring on the waste land. As these places 

 dried up, most of the leafhoppers went tp the sugar beets in the areas 

 under observation. In one case, however, the species was found in 

 some numbers on greasewood during egg-laying time, which would 

 suggest this plant as its original host. Its known distribution is all 

 within the area in Avhich this ]il;mt is abundant. 



