THE OVIPOSITOR. 
81 
when the taking of food is a constant feature. The structure of the 
mouth parts in these preliminary stages is identical in essentials with 
that of the adult, and the characteristic features are 
illustrated in the foregoing figures with subjoined expla- 
nations. 
In the taking of food by the larve and pup, as they 
rest on the rootlets in their earthen cells, the tip of the 
beak, namely, the lower lip, is brought to bear on the 
root, and by alternating longitudinal thrusts of the setz, 
especially the upper pair, which are the stronger and 
which represent the great jaws or mandibles of biting 
insects, the soft, succulent layers of the cambium 
beneath the bark are reached, the slender setz being 
supported, strengthened, and directed by the stronger 
and encircling sheath-like lower lip. The irritation 
caused by this 
puncture induces a 
flow of sap, which 
passes up between 
or throat 
by suction, 
Fic. 35.—Abdomen of female Cicada showing ovi- ine 2 
positor and attachments: a, ventral, 6, lateral, as In higher 
and c, dorsal view. (Author’s illustration.) animals. 
THE OVIPOSITOR. 
The ovipositor (fig. 34,5; fig. 35), or twig-piere- 
ing and egg-laying organ, of the female Cicada 
is also a very complex instrument. It issues - 
from a groove, or fissure, on the underside of the 
abdomen, and at rest is nearly concealed except 
at the tip by the broad overlapping sides of the 
eighth dorsal segment. The ovipositor proper 
is protected and covered when at rest by two 
valves, which form a sort of sheath, or scabbard. 
Fic. 34.—The pe- 
riodical Cicada: 
Side view of fe- 
male to show 
beak, a, and 
ovipositor, Db. 
(After Riley.) 
the sete to the lower lip and 
within this along the basal por- 
tion of the sete into the mouth 
Fig. 36.—Tip of ovipositor 
The inclosed ovipositor is a very tough, horny of Cicada, much enlarged: 
instrument, spear-shaped, and serrated at the 
a, from above, b, from be- 
neath,with dotted portion 
extremity, and consists of three pieces, namely, to show the alternating 
a back portion (probably two pieces grown to- 
gether), which acts as a supporting or connect- 
motion of the side pieces. 
(Author’s illustration.) 
ing piece for the two lateral blades. These lateral pieces, or blades, 
slide up and down in alternation on tongues projecting from the cen- 
31117—No. 71—07——6 ‘ 
