I5 2 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



the cheek beneath the eyes. Although the Fulgoridae are 

 vegetable feeders, none of our species have attracted the at- 

 tention of agriculturists. There are, however, certain exotic 

 species which do great injury to crops. 



The two accompanying figures will serve to show the 

 wonderful variations in form of these insects ; many other 

 types exist. Figure 185 represents a common species of Sco- 

 lops (Sco'lops), which occurs in grassy places. In this genus 

 the head is greatly prolonged, as with the exotic Candle-flies. 



Fig. 185. — Scolops. Fig. 186. — Ormenis septen- 



trionalis. 



Figure 186 represents Ormenis septentrionalis (Or'me-nis sep- 

 ten-tri-o-na'lis), a beautiful pale-green species powdered with 

 white, which feeds on wild grape-vines, drawing nourishment 

 from the tender shoots and mid-ribs of the leaves during its 

 young stages. 



Family CERCOPID^E (Cer-cop'i-dae). 



The Spittle Insects or Frog-hoppers. 



During the summer months one often finds upon various 

 shrubs and herbs masses of white froth. In the midst of 

 each of these masses there lives a young insect, a member of 

 this family. In some cases as many as four or five insects 

 inhabit the same mass of foam. The froth is supposed to 

 consist of sap, which the insect has pumped from the plant, 

 by means of its beak, and passed through its alimentary 

 canal. It is asserted that these insects undergo all their 

 transformations within this mass ; that when one is about to 

 molt for the last time, a clear space is formed about its 

 body ; the superficial part of the foam dries, so as to form a 

 vaulted roof to a closed chamber, within which the change 



