BULLETIN 254 



STUDIES OF LIFE HISTORIES OF FROGHOPPERS 

 OF MAINE.* 



Herbert OsBORN.f 



MEADOW FROGHOPPERS. 



The species of froghoppers common in meadows belong to 

 two species, Philaenus lineatus and P. spumarius, which wil. 

 be discussed in detail separately. Certain features are common 

 to the two species but in certain respects they are very different. 

 Both produce' large quantities of frothy matter "spittle," and 

 this is formed by liberating air beneath the fluid discharged 

 from the anal opening. See figs. 48 and 49. This fluid evi- 

 dently contains sufficient albuminous or gelatinous material to 

 form a slightly viscid mixture so that the air liberated within it 

 forms little bubbles that persist for a long time, some remnant 

 of the frothy mass adhering to the plants for some time after 

 the insects have emerged as adults and taken their departure. 

 I am not aware of any study of the composition of the froth 

 and it seems to have been assumed that the frothy condition 

 was due to air in the fluid just as it is discharged from the 

 alimentary canal. I have noticed however that there is a dis- 

 tinct secretion from the sides of the seventh and eighth abdomi- 

 nal segments, apparently a glairy or viscid substance, quite 

 evident when the living insect is submerged in weak alcohol 

 It seems to be slightly coagulated but not dissolved in the alco- 

 hol and it appears probable that the addition of this substance 

 to the discharge from the alimentary canal furnishes the viscid 

 quality to the mass that is necessary to maintain its frothy con- 



*Papers from the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station ; Ento- 

 mology 89. 



tMember of the Station Summer Staff. 



