fine hair or bristle, the second segment often with a peculiar texture 

 of the surface, due to the presence of sensory structures; rarely with 

 basal appendages (Otiocerus). Form of the head very diverse, the 

 vertex and frons forming either a continuous curve, or the planes of 

 the vertex and frons forming an acute angle, or both prolonged to 

 form a projection that may assume monstrous proportions and varied 

 shapes. The prothorax is normally developed and unarmed. 



SYSTEMATIC POSITION AND CLASSIFICATION 



The sub-order Homoptera may be somewhat loosely de- 

 fined as those true bugs that have the tegmina or elytra 

 usually of the same texture throughout and sloping, roof- 

 like, at the sides of the body; and beak arising from the 

 hinder part of the lower side of the head, and the head 

 very closely joined to the thorax. They are represented 

 by a large variety of insects many of which are of great 

 economic importance and among our most destructive pests. 



As the classification of the Homoptera into subfamilies 

 is a matter likely to prove difficult to the student and gen- 

 eral worker, I give here for their convenience the following 

 key useful for plant hoppers of our region, a modification 

 by Lutz of the one given by Brues and Melander. 



1. Active, free-living species; beak plainly arising from the head; 

 tarsi 3-jointed; antennae very short, with a small, terminal bristle, 

 2 



Females often inactive or incapable of moving; beak appearing to 

 arise between the front legs, sometimes absent in males; tarsi, if 

 present, 1- or 2-jointed; antennae usually well developed (sometimes 

 absent), without conspicuous terminal bristle, 6 



2. Our species, usually, at least % inch long; three ocelli on top of 

 the head; antennae with short basal joint, terminated by a hair-like 

 process which is divided into about 5 joints; front femora thickened 

 and generally spined beneath, ....ClCADiDAE. 



Our species less than 5 in. long; usually not more than two ocelli, 

 and front tibiae not enlarged, 3 



3. Antennae arising from below the eyes; ocelli placed beneath or 

 near the eyes, usually in cavities of the cheeks; pronotum not un- 

 usually developed, FULGORIDAE. 



Antennae arising from in front of and between the eyes, 4. 



4. Pronotum extending back over the abdomen, MEMBRACIDAE. 



Pronotum not extending back over the base of the abdomen, 5. 



5. Tibiae smooth, the hind pair with one or two stout spines and with 

 a cluster of spinules at the apex, CERCOPIDAE. 



Hind tibiae with two rows of spines beneath; leaf -hoppers of 



which the Jassinae is the principal subfamily, CICADELLIDAE. 



7 



