1915] Funkhouser — Life Ili.sforij of Vanduzea Arquata Say 185 



swarms of attending ants which are always to be noticed where 

 the membracids are congregated. The adults seem to be decidedly- 

 gregarious and are seldom found alone. From twenty to thirty 

 may be seen closely arranged around the base of a twig, their 

 bodies touching, their heads pointing towards the base of the 

 branch, and often the nymi:)hs concealed in the crevices of the 

 bark below them. Here they rest by the hour, motionless, without 

 change of position, and apparently not even feeding. Unlike most 

 of the local forms of the family, they prefer the upper, rather than 

 the lower sides of the branches, and the adults are very seldom 

 found on the leaves and nev^er on the trunk. They enjoy the sun 

 and are most numerous on the south sides of the trees; they are 

 rarely found in shady places, as the open groves, roadsides, and 

 scattered trees furnish the most favored habitats. Both young 

 and old trees harbor them, but they always choose the lower 

 branches, well out towards the ends. Whether this characteristic 

 location is chosen to fa^'or the attendance of the ants would be 

 a matter of conjecture; certainly they seem in no way averse to 

 this symbiosis. 



This Membracid is comparatively active, leaving the branch 

 with a quick "snap" when disturbed and disappearing with a 

 flight too rapid to be followed by the eye. If care is taken, how- 

 ever, they may be secured in the fingers, and after a little practice 

 this proves to be the most satisfactory method of collecting, since 

 they fly well and will not drop to the ground when the limb is 

 beaten, and the thorny host does not lend itself to the use of a 

 net. As in Thelia bimaculata, the migration of this species is slow, 

 one tree often being loaded with individuals while another in close 

 proximity is barren. If disturbed, the insects usually return 

 to the same tree from which they were frightened. 



Adidts first appear in this locality about the first week in June. 

 The earliest record is May 29, 1912, when tln-ee females and 

 two males were taken. From this date they are common until 

 late in October, depending on the weather conditions. They have 

 always been found after the first heavy frost ^ and are sometimes 

 persisting and surprisingly active after the first few snows. In 



1 On September 28, 1913, after a very heavy frost in the Cayuga Lake region, thousands of 

 these insects were found on the hills east of the lake. The individuals were sluggish, but 

 several days later, after some warmer weather, seemed as active as in midsummer. 



