266 



DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS. 



near by, to the growth of annual crops which require frequent 

 cultivation. 



The Grape-vine Leaf-hopper ( Typhlocyba comes). When grape 

 leaves have a blotched appearance, or are covered with little 

 yellowish or brownish patches, as at/ in Fig. 267, and event- 

 ually dry up and fall, it is usually the work of little jumping 

 insects, called leaf-hoppers (Fig. 267). They are minute in- 

 sects about an eighth of an inch in length, and have a peculiar 

 habit of running sidewise when disturbed, and dodging to the 



FIG. 267. The Grape-vine Leaf-hopper. , Adult; d and *?, nymphs;/, work 

 of insect on leaf ; g, cast skins of nymphs on leaf ; , a', and ^, much enlarged. 

 (U. S. Div. of Entomology.) 



other side of the leaf. The adults jump or fly away quickly 

 when the vine is disturbed. Their wings and back are vari- 

 ously colored with red, yellow, and brown, while the body 

 color is light yellowish-green. In May they begin to appear, 

 and continue on the vines until the leaves fall. The adult 

 hoppers spend the winter in masses of rubbish or leaves ac- 

 cumulated against fences or other obstruction, where thou- 

 sands of them may be seen on warm winter days. The eggs 

 are thrust under the skin of the lower side of the leaves of 

 the vine in June. The nymphs (Fig. 267 d and e) live on the 

 under sides of the leaves and suck out the substance of the 

 "Leaf. As the nymphs grow they shed their skins four times, 



