﻿154 New York State College of Forestry 



The Egg 



The egg of N. roseipennis is about 1.78 mm. long and of a 

 glistening blueish-wliite color. It is elongate-oval in shape and 

 slightly curved toward the distal end, where there is a feeble con- 

 striction. Beyond this portion it widens again to receive the white 

 hood. This hood is very distinctive and serves easily to distinguish 

 the egg from that of N. rufusculus. 



The incubation period varies from seventeen to nineteen days. 

 At the end of this period the hood is loosened by some force within 

 the egg and the nymph gradually and very slowly emerges. The 

 whole phenomenon has much the appearance of growth as there 

 seems to be no movement on the part of the nymph at first. The 

 head is first seen pressing against the hood and pushing it along 

 for a few seconds. As the nymph emerges further the hood slides 

 off from the head and falls at the side of the egg-shell, but still 

 attached by a thin filament. 



The head of the emerging nymph is bent slightly ventrad, the 

 antennae, proboscis and legs being in close approximation, making 

 the whole mass appear quite compact. It is shining and nearly 

 colorless except for the brown bead-like eyes. AVhen the nymph 

 has emerged far enough so that the prothoracic legs are free, they 

 are feebly used in drawing out the rest of the body. This is true 

 for each pair of legs. The nymph finally emerges and stands near 

 the empty shell, still having the abdomen attached to the filament 

 holding the egg-cap, bj^ a slender thread-like substance. This is 

 soon broken and the nymph seems to remain motionless for a very 

 short time. This is doubtless done to allow the chitin to harden, 

 since in many instances the legs are not at all able to support the 

 weight of the nymph when first hatched. The period of rest is, 

 however, a very short one and soon the young nymph is scamper- 

 ing off for food and drink. 



After hatching, all that can be seen of the egg-shell is the some- 

 what irregularly-shaped opening about level with the surface of 

 the grass-stalk and the hood lying at one side attached by the bent 

 filament. Drawings of the egg before incubation and after, are 

 shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12. 



First Instar 



The nymphs on first hatching are about 1.4 mm. long and nearly 

 colorless, becoming whitish after a short time. The nymph as seen 

 from above is bluntly pointed at each end; proboscis very long, 

 reaching beyond metathoracic coxae ; legs transparent and length- 

 ened out of proportion to body; tarsi with proximal segment very 

 short and distal segment much longer ; each division of thorax with 

 four hairs on dorsal surface, two near the center of the segment 

 and one near each lateral edge; prothorax with median furrow; 

 meso- and metathorax depressed below the level of the prothorax 

 and abdomen, most strongly depressed medially ; abdomen strongly 



