The Leaf-Hoppers 



are distinguished from the restricted Jassidae by the position cf 

 the ocelli. Among the leaf-hoppers which may be especially 

 mentioned are the green spindle-shaped species of the genus 

 Diedrocephala which are found abundantly in pasture lands, one 

 species ( D. mollipes) occurring commonly in the salt marshes of 

 the Atlantic States. The forms belonging to the genus Proconia 

 are rather widely distributed and one of them (P. undata) is 

 r esponsible for most of the stories of " weeping trees" which 



Fig. 139. Erythroneura vitis. (After Marlatt.) 



are seen in the newspapers. These insects in all stages (and the 

 species of several other genera have a similar habit) eject a spray 

 of fluid from the anus when disturbed and, when occurring abun- 

 dantly upon trees, if the tree be shaken what seems almost like a 

 light shower of rain will fall. One of these " weeping tree mys- 

 teries," so-called, in Texas some years ago "set the state agog 

 with various explanations of the phenomenon, ranging from the 

 superstitious credence of the supernaturally inclined to the posi- 

 tive denial and derisive laughter of the constitutionally skeptical." 

 It tcok a brave newspaper reporter to solve the mystery, since he 

 alone dared to climb the tree and investigate. The common 

 leaf-hoppers of the grape-vine, erroneously called by grape- 

 growers " Thrips," are known as Erythroneura vitis and Typhlo- 

 cyba vitifex. They frequently cause the leaves of grape-vines to 

 iurn brown and wither. Agallia sanguinolenta prefers open 



244 



