16 THE SUGAR-CANE INSECTS OF HAWAII. 
the lower position on the stalk. The leafhopper, during a heavy 
infestation, will continue to puncture the midribs of the leaves as _ 
rapidly as the leaves unfold. The older egg chambers of the lower 
leaves are distinguished from the newly formed chambers of the 
upper leaves by a reddish discoloration. 
Under laboratory conditions the writer found that the eggs 
deposited in cane growing in rearing cages hatched two weeks there- 
after. The period of development of the young to the adult required 
34 additional days, making the life cycle 48 days in length. 
The length of the egg stage, under certain conditions, is much 
longer than the time given above. Mr. C. F. Eckart, director of 
the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Experiment Station, records that hatch- 
ing continued for 38 days from cane cuttings infested with eggs of 
the leafhopper.? 
The fact that the eggs will Preh from cane cuttings during a 
period of at least 38 days is a very important point to bear in mind 
in the shipping of infested cane from one locality: or country to 
another. Since practically the only means by which the Hawauan 
leathopper could be introduced into the cane fields of the Southern 
States is by the shipment of seed cane from New South Wales, 
Queensland, Java, or Hawaii to this country, the writer would 
emphasize the necessity of having all introductions made through 
officials engaged in sugar-cane investigations. 
On issuing from the cavity, or chamber, the young, newly hatched 
leafhoppers appear at first small, slim, wingless nymphs, almost 
transparent. During the process of hatching or emerging from 
the egg chamber the insects slowly work their way head first to the 
surface of the leaf or stalk. The writer found, by timing the opera- 
tion, that from 8 to 15 minutes were required, during which time 
the nymphs rest occasionally to unfold and dry their legs. When 
they become detached from their egg-cases and have emerged to 
the surface, they are at once active and scatter over the plant to 
feed, congregating at first down within the sheaths of the upper 
leaves. In a few hours the body becomes shortened and the outer 
covering, on exposure to the air, becomes darker in color. The habit 
of the very young in secluding themselves within the lower sheaths 
of the leaves renders them quite inconspicuous unless especially 
sought for. They may become very abundant and still remain unde- 
tected by an ordinary observer until the result of their feeding 
becomes apparent. (See nymphs, Plate II, figs. 3-6.) 
Ordinarily when disturbed the adult leafhopper does not fly but 
moves off in an odd, sidewise fashion to another part of the leaf, or 
springs suddenly to another portion of the plant. (See adults, 
Plate II, fig. 7, and text fig. 1.) 
a Ecxart, C. F.—Report of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association Experiment 
Station for 1903, Honolulu, 1904, pp. 78-79. 
ee ee a a ee a a eee 
EEE eT 
