82 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



killed they are forever out of the way. I would suggest 

 that for boys in the country this would afford a fit and 

 amusing occupation when out of school, thereby keeping 

 themselves and the bugs from doing mischief. 



This species of bugs, as well as all kindred ones, inflict 

 often painful wounds, which are sometimes more venomous 

 than the sting of a scorpion, which is often experienced in 

 tropical countries, and produce tumors as big as the egg of 

 a pigeon, for several days. But it is much more singular 

 that there is found in the West Indies a bug known by the 

 name of the Wheel-bug (Reduvius serratus), which, like the 

 Electric Eel and the Torpedo, communicates to the person 

 whose flesh it touches an electric shock, which comes out 

 from its legs. 



Tree-hoppers (Membracis). 



The TREE-HOPPERS are mostly of a green color, and 

 small size ; they have four wings, and a very 



Figure 21. J J 



large thorax or chest ; they possess the power of 

 leaping a distance of five or six feet, which is 

 about two hundred and fifty times their length. 

 They generally remain motionless for hours upon 

 The Tree- the j ea f o f a bush or tree, imbibing the sap of 



hopper. 



the plant ; but at the approach of any one they 

 suddenly leap with great ease into the air, at the same time 

 spreading out their wings, and fly to some other abode. 



They feed mostly on the leaves of the oak, the locust, 

 and several other trees. But their injury is of no great 

 importance. The principal species of Tree-hoppers are 

 the 



Membracis Ampelopsidis, on the Ampelopsis vine ; 

 " bimaculata, " locust-tree ; 



" univittata, " oak-tree, etc. 



