No. 34-] HEMIPTERA OF CONNECTICUT: CICADELLIDAE. 87 



Xestocephalus Van Duzee. 



Small ovate, head subconical, narrower than pronotum, vertex 

 sloping. Ocelli just above anterior edge and distant from the eyes. 

 Elytra somewhat rugose, without appendix, and with five apical 

 areoles. 



The species of the genus feed on grasses and sedges and are 

 usually found only in swampy or very moist places. 



Key to Species. 



1. Color brown, elytra brownish, usually with dark markings 2 



Color black, vertex often a uniform dark brown, face distinctly 



black, elytra with pale spots at the apex, length 3 to 3.5 mm. . . 



nigrifrons 



2. Vertex uniformly brown, unmarked or with faint brownish 



markings 3 



Vertex brown with inscribed yellow markings, pronotum and 

 elytra dark with conspicuous pale spots pulicarius 



3. Species large, 3.5 mm., vertex and pronotum rather uniform 



brownish, elytra mottled superbus 



Species smaller, 2 mm. in length, entire insect a pale brown color, 

 seldom marked with spots brunneus 



X. pulicarius Van Duzee. (Fig. 8, 3.) 



Bull. Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci., v, 197, 215, 1894. 



Small, yellowish to brown, vertex with heavy brown vermiculate 

 markings. Pronotum brown with numerous pale blotches. 

 Scutellum brown. Elytra yellowish hyaline with nervures and 

 mottling brown, leaving round pale areas. Length 2.5-3 "^"^• 



Occurs in New England on Carex, and is abundant in swampy 

 or moist and sometimes dry meadows, July to September. 



New Haven, 27 July, 3 Aug., 1920 (B. H. W.). 

 X. superbus (Provancher). Deltocephalus superbus Provancher. 

 X. fuhocapitatus Van Duzee. 



Pet. Faune Ent. Can., iii, 339, 1890. 



Rather large, vertex uniform pale brown, pronotum often 

 darker, slightly mottled with pale. Elytra yellowish hyaline, 

 marked with rather large brownish areas, apices broadly brown, 

 veins pale, indistinct. Length 3 mm. 



Feeds on Carex and should occur in swamp habitats in Con- 

 necticut. 



New Haven, 27 July, 1920 (B. H. W.). 

 X. nigrifrons Osborn. 



Me. Agr. Expt. Sta., Bull. 238, 109, 1915. 



Size of superbus, vertex, pronotum, scutellum and face black 

 shining or often very dark brown, unmarked. Elytra black shin- 

 ing, opaque, with very few pale areas, when present occurring only 

 on apical portion. Length 3 mm. 



Described from Maine and known to occur in Tennessee and 

 Pennsylvania. Taken in low marshy places and undoubtedly has 

 a food plant similar to allied species. 



