BULLETIN 248. 



STUDIES OF LIFE HISTORIES OF LEAFHOPPERS 

 OF MAINE.* 



Herbert Osborn, Consulting Entomologist. 



The following report includes the results of studies in Maine 

 during the summer of 1914 and are in the nature of a continu- 

 ation of the survey of the leafhoppers of the state begun in 

 1913. As a result of that seasons work a few species consid- 

 ered as of special economic importance were selected for a 

 more exhaustive study and during the season of 19 14 when I 

 devoted about ten weeks to the study, observations were made 

 upon the species discussed in this paper. 



The leafhoppers and the froghoppers (Jassidae and Cerco- 

 pidae) while belonging to distinct families and possessing some 

 very different habits agree in so many details and especially so 

 much in the nature of their work and the injury occasioned to 

 similar crops that they can very properly be treated in connec- 

 tion. Moreover there are a number of general considerations 

 that can very properly be grouped together so that the intro- 

 duction may be counted as applying to members of both groups. 



Except for the notable production of the frothy masses it is 

 probable that agriculturists generally would count them all as 

 one general group of plant sucking hoppers. 



The studies of the season have centered especially on the 

 species injurious to grass and grain crops. The work dealing 

 with leafhoppers is presented in this paper and that devoted 

 to froghoppers is in the main reserved for treatment in '1 

 separate bulletin soon to be issued by this Experiment Station. 



Considering the importance of the hay crop, which in Maine 

 ranks first in the agricultural products of the state, there is 



*Papers from the Maine Agricultural Experiment Vt'ii; Entomolo- 

 gy No. 85. 



