LIFE HISTORIES OF LEAFHOPPERS OF MAINE. 75 



the clypeus and there are scattered dots on the legs mostly on the upper 

 side. 



The face is distinctly roughened in places, the hind tibiae have two 

 rows of strong spines, nine or ten in each row, and the hind tarsi 

 have two platella on first jo-int, three ventral. 



The last instar (3rd) is six millimeters long and longer in propor- 

 tion than ithe earlier stages the sides distinctly parallel the wing pads of 

 meso- and meta-thorax well developed extending back on to the base of 

 the abdomen to the 2nd segment. 



The color is green a little paler than for the earlier stages and the 

 flecks of dark dots are less evident, being smaller in proportion than 

 for the younger nymphs. 



The nymphs are very easily distinguished from the larvae of 

 other leafhoppers by the flattened bodies and the rather sharp 

 margin of the head with the parallel sided form of the abdo- 

 men. They have more the general appearance of the nymphs 

 of Gypona than for the strict jassid genera. 



The figures will assist in recognizing the species in the early 

 stages. 



The habits of this species differ somewhat from the typical 

 leafhoppers as they seem adapted to living on the ground or 

 close to the surface though by no means so specialized in this 

 regard as the Acocephalus albifrons. The larvae creep around 

 on the ground very commonly but will be found also on the 

 stems of the plants or even well up on grass blades but they clo 

 not jump so readily as some species and while taken in fair 

 numbers in the sweep net the numbers caught in this way are 

 not as good an index of the abundance of the species as for 

 many other kinds. Their color is well adapted to protect them 

 in the grass and they may very easily escape notice unless one 

 . .. : _::'i.;l/ for them. The adults also run arouni 



very commonly on the ground but climb up on the stems of 

 plants readily and are taken in abundance in sweeping. At 

 first light green, they change to shades of gray or dull straw 

 color fitting in well with the color of dead leaves and stems. 

 In both larval and adult stages therefore they are admirably 

 fitted to escape attention of the casual observer and it is not at 

 all strange that they have not been associated with the falling 

 off" in the hay crop that is noticed in old meadows. 



Their attack is made on stems and leaves but for the young 

 especially it is probable that they work at the base of the stems 

 or even down on the crown which offers a juicy point of attack. 



