36 N. S. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Full technical descriptions of this species and other orchard Membracids may be 

 found in Technical Bulletin No. 17 of the N. Y. Agricultural Experiment Station. 



LIFE HISTORY STUDIES. 



On finding that the nymphs preferred the Sheep Sorrel(RMrnex acelosella) as a food 

 a number of these plants were grown in flower pots, lantern globes were put over them, 

 and the young nymphs placed separately on the plants, immediately after hatching. 

 Notes were taken each day and the transformation of each specimen recorded. Upon 

 reaching maturity the adults were placed on apple and pear seedlings, but these did 

 not appear to be sufficiently succulent to meet the needs of the adults, which soon died. 

 The length of life of the adult, as ind ; cated on the accompanying table, should not, 

 therefore, be taken as the normal life of the insect. 



OVIPOSITION. 



The eggs of the Ceresa taurina are la : d in the buds of both the apple and pear, gen- 

 erally within the oute- bud scale For oviposition the female hopper prefers a variety 

 with large buds, and usually the larger terminal or blossom buds are selected. They 

 are apparently unable to deposit their eggs in sma'l buds, such as those borne by the 

 small apple and pear seedlings, growing in pots in the insectary. 



After having selected a bud within which to deposit her eggs, the female hopper 

 inspects it minutely all over. She then perches directly at the top of the bud, unsheathes 

 her ovipositor and inserts it between the bud scales; settling down on the bud her body 

 performs a gentle rocking motion for the next five or ten minutes, after which the ovipo- 

 sitor is withdrawn. Having deposited the egg the female usually turns round and ex- 

 amines her work. Three or four incisions, sometimes a larger and sometimes a smaller 

 number, are usually made in close proximity. A pause then occurs in the work, during 

 which the female moves around to the other side, or sometimes to an adjoining bud, 

 where the same process is repeated. Ovipositing by females of this species was observ- 

 ed on Oct. 5th. 



CERESA BUBALUS FABR. 



(The Buffalo Tree-hopper). 



Ceresa bubalus Fabr., known commonly as the buffalo tree-hopper, is the most com- 

 mon of the orchard tree-hoppers. It is found generally throughout the Annapolis Val- 

 ley, and, while it is not a pest of first rank, young orchards wholly or partially in sod 

 sometimes suffer severe y. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



Like Ceresa taurina th ; s insect fed most readily in the nymphal stage upon the 

 Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) , selecting the succu'ent shoots growing in heavy shade. 

 A number were found feeding upon the Canada thistle (Cirsium arvensis) and a large 

 number on clover (Trifolium repens). Other plants on which nymphs were found feed- 

 ing were: — golden rod (Solidago spp.) curled dock (Rumex crispus), plantain (Plan- 

 tago major) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Several were taken on the suckers 

 at the base of apple trees, where these were heavily shaded and consequently tender. 

 On their favorite food plants they cluster thickly at the base of the plant, feeding head 

 downwards. Nymphs were found feeding on sorrel 15 feet from the tree. 



In the adult stage they return to the plants upon which their eggs are laid, and dur- 

 ing the breeding period feed upon the tender growth. In the laboratory, however, a- 

 dults taken from the apple trees fed quite contentedly on the sorrel, sometimes for sev- 

 eral weeks. 



