SE( TIOX v.— TRINIDAD FKOOIIOPPER. 



57 



Shortly after changing to the adult the insect voids a small quantity 

 of white semi-solid excreta. Kershaw (1914 p. 68) had this analysed and 

 fouid 36 per cent, water, 20 per cent, organic matter and 44 per cent, 

 eali'ium potassium phosphate with minute ti'ace of iron. 



During the heat of the day the insect remains hidden away among 

 tile grasses or in the vipper axils of the cane plants into which position 

 it invariably gets by backing down the leaf, so as to be head upwards in 

 its hiding jjlace and, as a result, more free to escape by jumping if 

 necessary. Apparently little or no feeding is done in this position. 



In the late afternoon and early evening the adults gradually leave 

 their hiding places and come out on to the leaves. This takes place 

 earlier or later according to the condition of the day. On wet cloudy 

 overcast days they begin to come up about 4.30 in the afternoon and 

 have been seen in thousands sitting on the leaves by 5 p.m. On hot clear 

 days they seldom start to move until 5.30 an i are usually mostly out shortly 

 after six. In this country the sun sets about 6.45 in July (first brood) 

 and about 6.15 in October and November (last brood). 



During the daytime adults can only be c lught by hand individually 

 from the axils of the leaves, but once they have come on to the leaves 

 they can be caught by thousands with nets {see p. 146). 



A.S soon as it becomes dusk the adults (males especially) begin to tly 

 about. Nothing is knowi of the distance that they can fly, usually it 

 appeal's to be small. In order to test the hour of the greatest flight five 

 light traps were put out in a field on the 9th .luly 1918 and the insects 

 caught were removed at the end of each hour. Fig. 8 shows the results, 

 from which it will be seen that the greatest flight was in the first hour 



Fig-. 8. 



Fig. 8 — Diagram to iUustrate the activity of adult froghoppers duriiiij 

 the night. 



