PROCEEDINGS, 1917 



A. Brown with transverse bands diceios. 



A. A. Green or greenish without bands. 



B. Undersurface of body strongly marked with black basalis. 



B.B. Undersurface of body not strongly marked with black. Large 

 green species, 8-10mm. in length; hairs, if present, scattered. 



C. Horns long, sloping upward and recurved; clypeus much prolonged 



beyond vertex, metopidium concave, transversely taurina. 



C.C. Horns, stout, nearly straight; clypeus short; metopidium 

 broadly convex bubalus. 



Ceresa diceros Say. (Plate 1, fig. 5.) 



This species is readily recognized by the character given in the key. We have only, 

 two specimens in the collection, both taken at Truro. One bears the label "Aug. 27. 

 1913." and the other "July, 1916". The host is not recorded but according to Funk- 

 houser, it breeds on the black elder (Sambucus canadensis L.) 



Ceresa bubalus Fab. (Plate 2.) 



This species closely resembles Ceresa taurina Fitch, but is usually slightly larger 

 and of a darker green than this insect and presents further differences in the convex 

 metopidium and stout short horns. This last character, however, appears to be subject 

 to some variation. 



This is our only membracid that can be regarded as having any particular econo- 

 mic importance, the damage which it causes being occasioned by the female in laying 

 her eggs in the young growth of apple trees. The double slits which she makes with 

 her ovipositor during this process do not heal over, but increase in size with the growth 

 of the tree causing unsightly scars. The tree may be gradually weakened by the re- 

 peated injuries to the young wood and rendered susceptible to attacks of fungi and wood 

 boring insects. In addition to the apple, we have found egg slits in pear and elm twigs. 

 A full account of the nymphal habits and life hi: tory of this insect will be found in the 

 proceedings of this society for 1916. (N. S. Ent. Soc. Proc. No. 2, 1916, 36-39.) 



Ceresa taurina Fitch. (Plate 3). 



This species may be distinguished from the preceding by slightly smaller size, rath- 

 er lighter color, concave metopidium and long recurved horns. Its life history and hab- 

 its are also fully discussed in last year's proceedings. 



Ceresa basalis Walker. 



This species may be distinguished from all others of this genus by the black under- 

 surface. We have taken it in sweeping around the borders of the meadow on the coU 

 lege farm but have not observed the eggs or nymphal food plants. 



The genus Carynota Fitch. 



Two species of this genus are found in our collection, viz. C. stupida Walk, and C. 

 porphyrea Fairm. 



The former, (Plate 1, fig. 1) is the more common species in Nova Scotia and is 

 found on birch twigs during July and August, bearing a striking resemblance to the 

 buds of this tree. 



The female is about 5 mm. in length, dark chestnut brown in color and with dor- 

 sum elevated but not strongly arched. The front and sides are beset with small light 



