186 ZOOLOGY. 
and Honduras. It is probable that it would flourish in the southern United 
States wherever the species of cactus suitable for its food are found. 
Humboldt calculated the annual amount of cochineal imported into Europe 
to be 800,000 pounds, and it requires about 70,000 insects to make a 
pound. Lac (or shell lac), which is used in making sealing-wax, varnishes, 
&c., is the product of a coceus. Manna has a similar origin; and a white 
wax is collected from another species. Lecaniwm (figs. 52, 53), Dorthesia 
(jig. 56), and Chermes (fig. 58), belong to this family. | 
fam. 2. Aphide (figs. 57, 59). The plant lice, like the preceding 
family, are small insects which infest the tender shoots of vegetables, and 
by their numbers sometimes cause great damage. The body is robust, the 
head small, the antenne seven articulate, the feet slender, the wings trans- 
parent, with few nervures, and the abdomen is sometimes provided with 
two tubular stylets connected with glands bearing a saccharine liquid, upon 
which the newly excluded young are said to feed, and which is eagerly 
sought by ants. The Aphides are generally without wings, although they 
are anomalous in sometimes having and sometimes being without them in 
the same species. The apterous individuals are generally females. The 
pupe are active, and can be distinguished by their incipient wings, unless 
they are to produce wingless individuals. A single impregnation will 
fecundate several generations, the offspring being females which are capable. 
of continuing the race. Kyber thus continued a species for four years, 
and Bonnet raised nine generations in three months. In some cases eggs 
are produced, and in others living young, and of these about ninety are 
produced at a time. = 
fam. 3. Psyllide (jig. 55). A small family allied to the Aphides, but 
they are more active. They have ten articulate antennz, the females 
have an ovipositor, and the male several abdominal appendages. 
fam. 4. Cereopide. This is an extensive and widely spread family of 
small and handsome insects, which suck the juices of plants, and are found 
abundantly in grass and low vegetation. The antenne are tri-articulate, 
the stemmata two, the feet slender and adapted for leaping. The larva of 
Aphrophora (jig. 74) pierces small branches, and causes the sap to exude, 
which forms a mass of bubbles like spittle, under which the larva is hidden. 
Fam. 5. Membracide. This family is closely allied to the preceding 
one in natural characters and habits, and is united with it by some 
authors. The pronotum is dilated so as to cover the posterior part of the 
body entirely or in part, forming a conspicuous object, and giving to some 
of these insects a very strange appearance. 
Fam 6. Fulgoride. This family is remarkable for the large projecting 
head, bright colors, and large size of some species. The Chinese Pulgora 
candelaria (fig. 76) is yellow, and the elytra black, marked with flavous 
spots. L. laternaria (jig. 77) inhabits South America. 
Fum.. Cicadide. This family.is named from the genus Cicada (C. 
Jraxini, pl. 80, fig. 75), which has attracted attention from a remote 
period on account of the noise of the male. This sound differs consi- 
derably in the different species, that of (. pruinosa, Say, for example, 
390 
