LEAFHOPPERS OF MAINE. 1 53 



counted as of much economic importance and unless it shows a ten- 

 dency to increase excessively at times it may be ignored from the prac- 

 tical point of view. 



Empoasca obfitsa Walsh. 



Empoasca obtusa Walsh. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. IX, p. 316, 1864. 



Light green the head very slightly produced, female 4.25 to tip of 

 wings, 3.25 to tip of ovipositor. 



Taken on willow at Orono, July 30; at Veazie on Aspen poplar, Aug. 

 6th; Ft. Fairfield, Aug. 26 ; Ft. Kent, Aug. 28 and 29; common willow, 

 Highnioor Farm, Aug. 15th; Portland, Aug. 13th; N. Harpswell, Aug. 

 12, 1913. 



Some of these specimens show a slight sinuation of the last ventral 

 segment of the female but otherwise seem to agree 'much better with 

 ohhtsa than with atij-eoviridis Uhl. However these species are evidently 

 very closely akin. 



While sometimes fairly common they can hardly be said to have 

 m-uch economic importance in the numbers in which they usually occur. 



The Apple Leafhopper. 



Empoasca viali. 



This species was found in considerable numbers affecting not only 

 apple trees but potatoes and beans and while not in such abundance as 

 to cause great destruction, it is easy to conceive that they may so 

 increase as to cause the same serious losses that have been accorded 

 to it on apple and alfalfa in other parts of the country. It is a minute 

 green species with about 6 whitish dots along the front border of the 

 pronotum its length is about 3 imm. The life history of this species 

 has been studied quite extensively in Minn., lo'wa, and Missouri and 

 while there is some disagreement as to the condition in which the 

 winter is passed, the main points in the life cycle are fairly well known. 

 The usual method of hibernation for the other species of this family 

 is in the adult stage. Adults being secreted under leaves or rubbish in 

 thickets and other somewhat protected places and these hibernating 

 adults migrate during early spring to deposit eggs upon the various 

 food plants but especially upon apple. According to R. L. Webster, 

 who has studied the species particularly for Iowa, there is hibernation 

 of eggs in the twigs of apple or other plants and appearance of young 

 in early spring. Dr. Hasemann considers that the usual method of 

 hibernation for Missouri is in the adult stage. As no observations have 

 been recorded concerning this point for Maine it is impossible to say 

 positively but the practical bearing would not seem to be of very great 

 significamce for this region as the early appearing nymphs from either 

 hibernating adults or eggs, would be open to attack about at the same 

 time. 



