50 CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



The most remarkable thing connected with this family is the length 

 of the larval stage of the two members, known as "Seventeen-year" and 

 "Thirteen-year" locusts. These broods have been watched and recorded 

 by entomologists, and, in one case, they are known to appear in seven- 

 teen and in the other in thirteen years. It is, therefore, supposed that 

 their larval, or growing, stage requires seventeen and thirteen years 

 respectively. This is a most remarkable thing in the insect world, as 

 most of these animals have lives of short duration, rarely covering a 

 longer period than a year or two, though this is exceeded in a few 

 instances. But a seventeen-year-old insect is a phenomenon that might 

 be doubted, were it not that the records have been accurately kept and 

 prove it. 



Family Fulgoridse (Lantern-flies). In the tropics of South America, 

 members of this family attain great size and are phosphorescent, from 

 which fact we have their common name. The family is represented 

 with us by some small and insignificant species. 



Family Cereopidse (Spittle-bugs, Frog-hoppers, etc.). Often during 

 the summer months one will notice masses of froth on shrubbery: 

 upon removing this, a small, soft-bodied insect will be discovered 

 beneath it. Sometimes there will be two or more of these insects under 



one mass of froth. These are the 

 spittle-bugs, and the froth, which is 

 composed of the sap of the bush upon 

 which they are lodged and which is 

 pumped out by them, is their means 

 of protection. Clear this away a few 

 times and keep the insect clear of it, 

 FIG. 48. Frog-hopper or spittle insect (Aph- and it will dry up and die. At its last 



rophorasv.). Slightly enlarged. mQ ^ & ^^ gpace under ^ froth . & 



formed, and the mature insect, no longer needing the moisture for its 

 safety, emerges a perfect frog-hopper, and wanders about the plant. 



This is quite a large family, and includes a number of species. All 

 are injurious, where they appear in numbers, as they exist by sucking 

 the juices of the plants upon which they lodge. 



Family Jassidse (Leaf-hoppers). This is a family of insects, gener- 

 ally small in size, but very destructive. In this family is Erythoneura 

 vitis, the grapevine leaf-hopper, which has a most unfavorable reputa- 

 tion in the raisin vineyards of this State, where it is commonly known 

 as " thrips," although it is not at all related to that insect. During the 

 summer season, they sometimes appear in the vineyards by millions, 

 and by sucking the juices of the vines through the leaves do immense 

 damage. These insects hibernate in the vineyards or vicinity, and 



