PTYELUS GROSSUS, 67 



the nervures dark brown ; the apex of the rostrum, a 

 broad ring on the anterior tibiae, the four anterior tarsi, 

 and the spines and claws of the hinder legs, are blackish 

 brown. In other varieties the tegmina are more 

 extensively marked with yellow, or the ground colour is 

 pale yellow, with confluent, undulating, dusky brown 

 markings ; the dark spots on the head and thorax vary 

 in size and form, and are sometimes altogether absent ; 

 in some specimens the dark ring on the anterior tibiae is 

 wanting, and the yellow markings on the upper side of 

 the abdomen are often more extensive than in the 

 variety figured. 



The length of the body is 12 15 millm., the expanse 

 of the tegmma 3040 millm. 0. E. J. 



Of this handsome insect Miss Glanville, after men- 

 tioning that she is doubtful whether this Froghopper 

 may rank among the pests, remarks, " It has been sent 

 from Lower Albany on the plea that it destroys fruit 

 trees. In its larval state it is always enclosed in froth : 

 the trees aifected by it are called ' weeping trees,' for 

 clear drops of water are continually distilling from the 

 patches of froth. It is said that a tree attacked dies in 

 a year or two, because the sap is abstracted ; but the 

 evidence is by no means conclusive." M. G. 



The habit of the Ccrcopidce, the family to which this 

 large Froghopper belongs, is to live in all stages by 

 drawing the sap from their food-plants by means of their 

 rostrum or beak. The insects are much the same in 

 shape throughout their lives, but at first (that is, in the 

 larval stage) have no wings; as pupse the wings are 

 only partly formed. In these stages some kinds live in a 

 mass of froth ; and it is noted of one species, Aphrophora 

 Goudotii, Bennett, found on trees in Madagascar, that 

 the larva " has the power of emitting a considerable 

 quantity of clear water, especially in the middle of the 

 day, when the heat is greatest." * 



* ' Intiod. to Classification of Insects,' by Prof. J. 0. Westwood, vol. 

 ii., p. 433. 



F2 



