TRUE ORTHOPTERA 



3161 



Pseudophana europcza. 



the Fulgoridtz, but between and a little way in front of them. These insects can 

 give most vigorous leaps, and their hind-legs are generally thickened or other- 

 wise adapted for that purpose. They feed 

 on various plants, and in the summer the 

 frothy masses in which their larvae lie con- 

 cealed may be seen in numbers. It is from 

 this habit the larvae have of surrounding 

 themselves H a mass of froth, known as 

 cuckoo spit, that the name Aphrophora 

 (froth-bearing) has been given to one of the 

 principal genera. A species of that genus is 

 shown in the accompanying illustration, where 

 another form (Ledra aurita) remarkable 

 for an ear-like lobe on each side of the 

 prothorax is also figured. The family 

 Membraadce includes mostly exotic insects, which have in many cases an extraor- 

 dinary appearance, owing to the shape of the prothorax, or the curious way in. 



which it is armed with spines or knobs, or 

 with both combined. In these insects the 

 head is somewhat vertical, and usually 

 placed rather low down; it carries very 

 short antennas inserted near the front 

 margin; and there are two ocelli between 

 the compound eyes. The family is best 

 represented in tropical America, very few 

 species being found in Europe, and two only 

 in Britain. Centrotus cornutus, one of the 

 two latter, may be recognized by the 

 form of its prothorax, which carries on 

 each side a horny spine, and is prolonged 

 behind in another horny process, reaching 

 almost to the end of the body. 



The leaf fleas (Psyllidce) included 

 with the next two families in that section of 

 the order to which the name Phytophthires 

 has been given are little jumping in- 

 sects, winged in both sexes, and using their 

 wings not so much for the purpose of fly- 

 ing as to assist in their leaps. They have 

 moderately long antennae, consisting of 

 seen from the side e i g ht or ten joints, and are thus easily dis- 



kora spumaria ; 4. ,_., , , 



tinguished from the Cercoptdce. The head 

 is provided with three ocelli, in addition 



to the compound eyes; and the tarsi are two jointed. Owing to their method of 

 locomotion, these insects are not liable to be mistaken for plant lice, although, like 



Ledra aurita; 2. The same see 

 (both enlarged) ; 3. Aphrophc 

 L,arva of the same. 



