Division of Entomology. 



C. H. FERNALD. 



THE GRAPE-VINE LEAF-HOPPERS. 



These insects belong to the order Hemiptera or true bugs, and to 

 the suborder Homoptera. They are of small size, averaging only 

 about one-tenth of an inch in length, and are exceedingly variable. 

 They were first mentioned by Harris in his article "Locust" in the 

 Encyclopaedia Americana, published in 1831, where he gave the 

 name of Tettigonia vitis to one of the species. He also refers to it 

 in his "Insects Injurious to Vegetation," and states that it does 

 much damage to the grape leaves in this country. 



In 1856 Dr. Fitch, in his "Third Report on the Noxious Insects" 

 in New York, described three species and established for them the 

 genus Erytlironeura. His species are vulnerata, tricincia and vitifex. 

 Say had previously described a species under the name Tettigonia 

 hasilaris which has been found on the leaves of the grape at this place. 

 All these species have been referred to the genus Erytlironeura by 

 Prof. Uhler, our highest authority on the Hemiptera, but it is 

 more than probable that some of them are only varieties of others. 

 Vine growers generally call them thrips, vine-hoppers, leaf-hoppers, 

 etc. They all have similar habits, and the same remedies may be 

 used for each. 



These insects are believed to pass the winter in the perfect or 

 adult stage, under bark or leaves, and in the spring deposit their 

 eggs on the under surface of the tender leaves. These eggs hatch 

 in June, and the young larvae, which resemble the adult except iu 

 size and iu having no wings, suck the juices from the leaves, gener- 

 ally remaining on the underside. During their growth they molt 

 their skins several times, and these may often be seen on the leaves. 

 After a time the larvae transform to pupae with the rudiments of wings, 

 and finally when they reach maturity the wings appear fully devel- 

 oped. 



