CATALOGUE OF INSECTS. 



91 



Family BYTHOSCOPIDiE. 



The familes Bythoscopidcz, Teltigonida: and Jassida- contain the species 

 usually known as "leaf-hoppers." They are long, slender, tapering posteri- 

 orly, the head short, more or less crescent shaped, closely applied to the 

 thorax, the feelers very short and bristle-like, the hind legs long and fitted for 

 jumping. They occur on grasses, shrubs and trees of all kinds and many are 

 distinctly injurious. A good example is the grape-leaf hopper which occurs in 



Fig. 36. — Athysanus striatulus 



. — Thamnotetix fitchii. 



Fig. 38. — Agallia 4-punclata. 



swarms on the foliage from mid-summer on, punctures the cells from the under 

 side and causes the appearance of a yellow spot which turns brown later, so 

 that when the punctures are numerous the entire leaf becomes dry, brittle and 

 lifeless. Apple trees, especially when young, frequently suffer in the same way 

 and many other plants have the foliage either defaced or seriously harmed. 



In general the insects winter as adults, in rubbish or crevices, and lay eggs 

 early in spring, two or more generations developing in the course of the 

 summer. 



Remedial measures are, attracting the insects to light, which is not always 

 practical, capturing them on sticky surfaces, which is useful in the vineyard, 

 and spraying with soapsuds or diluted kerosene, which has the largest range of 

 usefulness. 



Capturing on sticky surfaces is done by jarring the vines so as to cause the 

 insects to fly up in clouds and at the same time waving a large fan, coated with 

 coal tar, or something similar, close to the foliage. Immense numbers of 

 specimens are caught in this way and if the method is persisted in for a few 

 days few insects will be left. The best time to do this fanning is in the early 

 evening. 



Sprays should be fine, should be applied while the insects are yet immature 

 or, if flying forms are already present, the plants should be disturbed so as to 

 cause them to fly and, the spray being directed around the outside of the bush 

 or tree, to hit these flying specimens. 



Taken as a whole, the injuries caused by the members of this family are little 

 noted and not much complained of. 



