THE BOG LEAFHOPPER. 61 
body, and the surface, especially of the head and pronotum, dis- 
tinctly pitted. It appears somewhat like Dreculacephala mollipes, 
but the head is much less pointed and the color is a darker green. 
(See fig. 5.) 
The life cycle has not been worked out in detail, but nymphs 
evidently belonging to this species may be found during midsummer 
in the low, swampy grasses where the species is evidently abundant. 
The food plants consist of swamp grasses, and the insect is found in 
greatest abundance upon the small, fine grasses of the genus Juncus, 
but so far as known it is not restricted to any particular species. It 
is found only in rather moist locations, never on the high, dry ground. 
It is therefore of much less economic importance than some of the 
Fig. 5.—The bog leafhopper ( Helochara communis): a, Adult; b, side view; c, head and pronotum offemale; 
d, head and pronotum of male; e, face; f, female genitalia; g, male genitalia; h, elytron. All enlarged. 
(Original.) 
other species. So far as these lowland grasses have a forage value 
it is of course to be counted, and since it occurs sometimes in enor- 
mous swarms if may cause a considerable reduction in growth. 
The actual effect of its presence is seldom observed, as the grasses 
on account of their abundant moisture keep their color in spite 
of the drain caused by the insects. The species is one which could 
not be easily controlled, since the methods of treatment available 
for pastures and meadows are not so applicable in the low ground 
where these forms occur. Probably the spraying methods would 
be most effective, as these could be used where the hopperdozer 
would not work to advantage. 
