THE CERCOPID^ AND THE APHIDES. 649 



One species of Cicada is a native of England ( Cicada Anglica), and 

 is to be found in the New Forest. 



The Cercopidse, or Hoppers, are well known in this country, mostly 

 from the habits of the larva and the saltatorial powers of the perfect 

 insect. The Cuckoo-spit, or Frog-hopper, is very plentiful in this 

 country. The larva fixes itself upon various plants and sucks their 

 juices through its long beak, which it plunges into the soft substance. 

 When the accumulation of froth is very great, which usually happens 

 in the heat of the day, a drop of clear water begins to form at the low- 

 est' part, into which the froth drains itself, and is presently relieved by 

 the falling of the drop. The scientific name of this insect is Aplirophora 

 spurn aria. The beautiful Scarlet Hopper of England is frequently 

 found on ferns in the outskirts of woods. 



Passing by the Psyllidse, another family of this order, we come to 

 the Aphides, a family comprising a great number of species. The 

 whole history of these insects is remarkable in the extreme, presenting 

 many points w^iich seem most incredible, w^hich destroy several old-es- 

 tablished opinions, and which in all probability will serve, when fully 

 investigated, in establishing a new basis on which to found a more per- 

 fect system. The Aphides are wonderfully prolific, crowding upon plants 

 until they hide them completely from view, and all employed in suck- 

 ing the juice by means of the peculiar beak. They haunt every part of 

 the plant, the leaves and their stalks, the branches, and even the roots, 

 being infested by these persevering destroyers, which often do great 

 damage, and even force the leaves and branches to twist themselves 

 into extraordinary contortions. Some species raise certain excrescences 

 which serve as habitations for the insects. 



In many species there is a pair of tubercles toward the extremity of 

 the insect, which exude a sweetish liquid in a manner analogous to the 

 frothing of the Cuckoo-spit. This liquid falls upon the leaves of trees, 

 and is then known by the name of honey-dew. Bees are very fond of 

 this substance, and wherever it is present in any quantities may be seen 

 licking up the sweet secretion. Ants are equally fond of honey-dew, 

 but they go to the fountain-head at once, and lap it as it flows from the 

 tubercles. Whole regiments of ants may be seen ascending trees in 

 search of the Aphides, and it is very amusing to see how they will 

 search every atom of a tree on which the Aphides live, so as not to 

 allow a single insect to escape them. 



The Cochineal Insect (Coccus cacti) belongs to the same order. 

 This species is a native of Mexico and lives upon a kind of cactus, 

 called, from its insect guest, the Cactus cochin eUiferus. 



The Lac Insect ( Coccus lacca) resides in India and the hotter parts 



of Asia. 

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