Homoptera of Cranberry Lake Region 27 



Philaenus lineatus (Linnaeus). 



The grass frog-hopper is very similar to the preceding but seems 

 to restrict itself to grasses and consequently it is only found in 

 open land, possibly more frequently in the more moist habitats. 

 Observations in Maine showed this species to be closely restricted 

 to various species of grasses and while we have not bred out adults 

 for this region the immature forms examined bear out the con- 

 clusion that the species is essentially a grass-feeder here. The 

 froth masses have been very plentiful on timothy (introduced) 

 on the camp grounds and on native grasses of the vicinity. Its 

 distribution is apparently determined by that of host plants, but 

 wherever such plants are available along trails of " tote roads " 

 they may be found penetrating well into the woodlands and on 

 hill sides or ridges of all parts of the region. Wherever grasses are 

 of value the species may be counted of distinct economic import- 

 ance. Cranberry Lake, July 18, 1917 ; Aug. 1-7, 1917 ; July 3-5, 

 1920; Wanakena, Aug. 1-7, 1917, and July 29, 1920; Grasse 

 River, July 22, 1920 ; Plains, Aug. 3, 1920. 



Clastoptera obtusa Say (Fig. 12, h and c). 



This is a very common species on birch, alder and other trees 

 and shrubs and may be considered of distinct economic importance 

 in the forest as on some occasions a large number will be found 

 on a single branch and the sap drawn from the plant for the forma- 

 tion of the froth masses must mean a very considerable loss to 

 the plant. While apparently protected very well by the froth 

 mass, in one instance a species of mirid, Deraeocoris (Campo- 

 brochys) boreal is, was found with its beak inserted in the nymph 

 within the froth mass. This species has been particularly con- 

 spicuous during the season, its froth masses occurring in abun- 

 dance on several trees and shrubs, but in especial abundance on 

 the yellow birch, often several froth masses with at least one 

 nymph in each mass hanging from a single twig. The froth 

 masses on birch frequently show a large quantity of liquid with 

 very few bubbles so that they appear watery or quite transparent 

 and the nymph is very easily seen within the mass of fluid. 

 Midges have been found adhering to the fluid mass, their legs 

 entangled in the glairy substance much as a fly is entrapped in 

 tanglefoot. Froth masses on birch, noted about July 10 and 

 enclosed in twig cage, produced adult the 23d of July, 1920. 



Yellow birch is apparently the most infested of any of the trees 

 of the vicinity. The general distribution is emphasized by their 

 occurrence on birch in dense forest and it is quite probable they 

 may be occasionally^ abundant in the tree tops that are out of reach 

 of observation and constitute a distinct drain on the growth of 

 the trees. Cranberry Lake, July 30-31, 1917; July 2-31, 1920. 

 Wanakena, Aug. 1-7, 1917. Plains, Aug. 3, 1920. 



