

life histories of froghoppers of maine. 273 



Grass-feeding Froghopper. 



(Philaenus lineatus L.) 



This species appears to be a distinctly grass-feeding species 

 and as noted in the preceding section seems unable to main- 

 tain itself on plants outside the grass family. 



The species has a wide range in the northern hemisphere 

 occurring over a wide territory in Europe and North America, 

 but in the United States appears to be distributed especially 

 through the northern portion, occurring from Maine to the 

 Rocky Mountains. It seems to occur in greatest abundance in 

 the New England States and, in meadows which are kept in 

 grass for a number of years in succession, it undoubtedly must 

 be ranked as a distinct pest. While seldom if ever alone in its 

 attacks, being associated with various jassids and other sucking 

 insects, it is one of the abundant forms and during the two 

 seasons in which I have had opportunity to observe it there 

 has been no question as to its numbers being sufficient to occa- 

 sion distinct loss. The records of injury to certain fields apply 

 with special emphasis to this species as it was so plentiful that 

 the frothy masses were- a conspicuous feature of the meadows 

 in June and early July. Timothy and redtop were apparently 

 about equally sought and the froth masses occurred from the 

 level of the ground to several inches above. 



The withering of the upper part of the stems and probably a 

 considerable part Of the blasting of the heads, some of which is 

 doubtless clue to thrips (A. striatus Osb.) or to Jassids may be 

 attributed to this attack. 



At the time of my arrival in Orono, the last of June, the 

 nymphs had largely reached the final stage of growth so that I 

 do not. have observations on the earliest appearance. Judging 

 by their maturity however and also by the stages of growth 

 shown in the related P. spumarius it is probable that the eggs 

 hatch and larval life begins in late May or early June. 



On June 27th, 19 14, at my first opportunity for personal 

 observation the species was found plentifully on timothy and 

 redtop, all found being in the nymphal stages and included in the 

 froth masses, sometimes as many as two or three of the froth 

 masses and included larvae on a single grass stem. The most 



