LIFE HISTORIES OF FROGHOPPERS OF MAINE. 283 



ment black. Antennae, eyes, tip of beak, and tarsi blackish. 

 Ventral expansion of the pleurites giving a broad channel be- 

 neath, narrowing to tip where they form the leaf -like plates 

 used in enclosing air to form the bubbles. (See fig. 41 e.) 



Alder Spittee Insect. 



(Clastoptera obtnsa Say.) 



This common species abundant over a large part of the 

 northern United States has been known for a long period and 

 while described and credited to alder it is found on a variety 

 of plants mostly shrubs. Considerable confusion has occurred 

 in its classification and Fitch described certain forms as pini 

 and testacea from rather marked forms occurring on different 

 plants, but Ball in his review of the group referred all these 

 to obtnsa. No distinct varieties have been clearly demonstrated 

 as restricted to any host plant. 



Linter Fifth Report of the State Entomologist of New 

 York gives an account of the species based on larvse occurring 

 on alder. He describes the larvse as nearly white with long 



Fig. 42. Clastoptera obtusa Say. Nymph of last instar. Enlarged. 

 (Original.) 



legs which were moved rapidly in walking. The pupae (last 

 nymphal instar,) which had but recently undergone their trans- 

 formation, show but little coloring, especially on their wing 

 pads. With increased age they become more deeply colored, 

 and they are olive-green on their thorax, wing cases and legs." 



