10 CIRCULAR 10 6, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



hard shell covering they have many bristty spines decorating their 

 backs and many small hairs covering their bodies. (Fig. 9, B-F. ) 

 They are of a creamy white to dark-brown color, and have a more 

 or less mottled greenish appearance. 



ADULT STAGE 



Adults (fi< 



fie 



G and H) make their appearance in late 



June and in July and are present until the last of September, 

 although few are seen after the middle of September. The insects 



* 



Figdke 8. — A, Tree hoppers (Stictocephala inermis) hatching from eggs deposited in 

 wounds in apple twig ; B, empty eggshells protruding from the egg pouches or 

 oviposition wounds. X 2 



live about two months in the adult stage. During this time they 

 feed to a limited extent upon the alfalfa or other cover crop, but 

 their feeding is apparently of so little consequence, as is the case 

 with the nymph, that no injury is attributed to it. 



The adults fly somewhat, especially when disturbed, and in this 

 way become disseminated over the orchard and from one orchard 

 or alfalfa field to another. 



OVIPOSITION 



The adults spend most of the daytime on the fruit-tree twigs in 

 which the females lay their eggs. Eggs are deposited from late in 



