AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTO.\: 



of this family. In this genus the body is short and plump, some- 

 times nearly hemispherical: the species are small, our common forms 

 ranging from 3 mm. to 6 mm. (0.12 to 0.24 inch) in length. Cfastfy- 

 fens is a conspicuous species on account of it> bright yellow 

 marking. It varies greatly in color and markings: but the n 

 striking forms are black, with three transverse yellow bands, two on 

 the head and one on the thorax; and with the scutellum and a 

 large oblique band on each wing-cover yellow. Another common 

 cies is Cl&Stdpttra obtilsa. This occurs on black alder in summer 

 and autumn. "It is of a claret-brown color above, marked with two 

 pale bands on the vertex, two on the prothorax, and a wavy, broader 

 band on the wing-co\vr>. The membrane is often whitish, the 

 waved band is extended exteriorly, and there is a pale V->haped 

 figure on the end of the scutellum." 



Family X. JASSID.K.* 

 ( Leaf -hoppers. ) 



This the highest family of the Homoptera is a very extensive one. 

 And it is also of considerable economic importance: for it include*- 

 a number of species that are very injurious to vegetation. The 1>< >dy 

 i> more slender than in the preceding family; with which this agi 

 in the insertion of the antennae in front of and between the t 

 and in the absence of a prolongation of the prothorax above the 

 abdomen. But the most salient character which distinguishes the 

 Jassidae is the structure of the hind tibiae. These are nearly or 

 quite as long as the abdomen, curved, and armed with a ro\\ 

 spines on each margin. The form of the body " is commonly long 

 and slender, often spindle-shaped, with a large transverse prothorax 

 not much wider than the head. The front i> generally an oblique. 

 cross-ribbed, inflated prominence, with the cheeks touching the 

 anterior coxae, but rarely, if ever, restraining their movement. They 

 have a rather large triangular scutellum: the wing-Covers curve 

 the the abdomen, appear as tapering towards the tip. and 



the membrane is distinguished from the more leathery corium." 

 (Uhler.) 



The Jassidae are able to leap powerfully; and, as they are more 

 often found on the leaves of herbage and on grass than elsewht 

 they have been termed leaf-hoppers. 



* Jftssidse, Jftssus : /,issus, a proper name. 



