JAN 4 19i6 



PSYCHE 



VOL. XXII DECEMBER, 1915 No. 6 



LIFE HISTORY OF VANDUZEA ARQUATA SAY 

 (MEMBRACIDyE).i 



By W. D. FUNKHOUSER. 



Although Vanduzea arquata Say is one of the most widely 

 distributed of the species of Membracidse in the United States, 

 its life history has not hitherto been described. The species is 

 very abundant in the vicinity of Ithaca, N. Y., on locust (Robinia 

 pseudacacia L.) and the following study has been made during the 

 summers of the past five years, the data being compiled largely 

 from field notes made during that time. For three years almost 

 daily notes were made of the life history of this Membracid in- 

 cluding date, locality, host, weather and temperature records, and 

 the insects were observed under natural conditions. Specimens 

 were reared in the insectary merely to ascertain the lengths of 

 the various instars, and these laboratory records have been used 

 only as a check upon the field notes. Vanduzea arquata is by far 

 the most common Membracid in the Cayuga Lake basin and no 

 difficulty has been experienced in securing both adults and nymphs 

 throughout the season. 



I am indebted to Professor O. A. Johannsen of the Entomolog- 

 ical Department of Cornell University for his very helpful sugges- 

 tions and criticisms in the course of this study, and to Professor 

 W. M. Wheeler of the Bussey Institution, Harvard University, 

 for the determination of the ants which are attendant on this 

 species of Membracid. 



Historical. 



This insect was described by Say as Memhracis arquata in 

 1831 (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. VI: 302. 12). Fitch recorded it as 



'Contribution from the Entomological Laboratory of Cornell University. 



