1915] Funkhaiiscr — Life History of Vandvzea Arquafa Saij 189 



following data for one individual: first instar, 5 days; second, 3 

 days; third, 3 days; fourth, 4 days; fifth, 6 days; total, 21 days. 

 Much difficulty was experienced in recording the second and third 

 molts which were very erratic and often, for some reason, the 

 second molt could not be discovered at all, the nymphs appearing 

 to pass over this molt entirely. Although 21 days is thus given 

 as the average, the period from egg to adult has been known to 

 last for 33 days, and in the most rapid growth observed, occupied 

 18 days. A twig in the field, harboring nymphs of the first instar, 

 was enclosed in netting on July 30, 1913, and the first adults 

 appeared from this brood on August 16, making a total of 17 days. 

 Presuraing that the nymphs were two or three days old when 

 first found, which was very likely the case, this field record con- 

 forms very well with the average. The averages of a considerable 

 number of observations gives the following summary as perhaps 



the normal: 



Days 



First instar 5- 8 



Second instar 3- 5 



Third instar 3-5 



Fourth instar 3-6 



Fifth instar 5-10 



Total 19-34 



ECDYSIS. 



The first splitting of the integument appears down the median 

 line of the thorax, and not on the dorsal part of the head as in 

 most cases which have been observed in the Membracidae. The 

 skin over the head opens next and then that on the dorsal line of 

 the abdomen, the latter splitting for practically its whole length. 

 In the last molt the insect usually creeps out to the under side 

 of a leaflet and fastens itself securely by the first two pairs of legs. 

 The last pair of legs is left free and used to a slight extent in 

 the process. The dorsal part of the thorax emerges first, cjuickly 

 followed by the head; the legs are then withdrawn rather slowly 

 and the abdomen pulled out more or less sidewise as the insect 

 seeks a new foothold beside the old skin. The time consumed in 

 this process is from five to twelve minutes. The exuviae are 

 usually perfect and may be found hanging to the underside of the 



