26 



New York State College of Forestry 



Philaenus leucopthalmus (Linnaeus) (Fig, 13). 



The meadow frog-hopper is one of the most abundant of the 

 spittle-insects and throughout the entire New England region 

 occasions no little injury to plants, especially clover and other 

 legumes, but does not attack the grasses. It has no restricted 

 habitat except that it does not occur in the deeper woods and its 

 froth masses are most commonly observed on the small shrubs or 

 annuals. The froth masses of this species are not distinguishable 

 from those of P. Uneatus, but there seems to be a distinct choice 

 of food plant; it occurs on a great variety of plants but, so far 

 as observed, not on grasses. The occurrences of special interest 



Fig. 13. — Froth masses of Philaenus leucophthalmus Linn. Photo 

 by Fivaz. 



here are on fire cherry, and raspberry, but they abound on many 

 plants, especially those of the family compositae. 



The larvae of this species are to be separated from those of 

 P. Uneatus by the relatively shorter, blunter head. The froth 

 masses including nymphs appear for this locality at the same 

 time as those of P. Uneatus, late June and early July, the adults 

 beginning to appear by July 10 (1920) and becoming abundant 

 a little later.. The species occurs in many different varieties both 

 in Europe and America and most of these varieties have been 

 observed in the Cranberry Lake region. Cranberry Lake, July 21, 

 1917, Aug. and July 2, 1920 ; Camp, early July, 1920 ; Wanakena, 

 Aug. 1-7, 1917 ; Grasse River, July 22, 1920 ; Plains, Aug. 3, 1920. 



