INSECTS OF SAMOA 



Part II. Fasc. 4 



HEMIPTERA— CICADELLIDAE (JASSIDAE) 

 By Herbest Osborn, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 



(With 15 Text-figures) 



The collection of Cicadelhdae received includes collections made by Dr. P. A. 

 Buxton and Mr. G. H. E. Hopkms in 1924-25, together with collections by 

 0. H. Swezey and G. P. Wilder and E. H. Bryan. It represents the largest 

 series known from this group of islands and is of special interest in comparison 

 with the Fiji, Society and Marquesas groups and their possible affinities with 

 Oriental or Malayan species, and also with the Hawaiian Islands to the north. 

 All these groups of islands have had a long isolation, with evidently abundant 

 time and opportunity, so far as food plants and other ecological factors are 

 concerned, for the formation of species or varieties from what must have been 

 early introductions from more fully populated regions. While it would be 

 intensely interesting to attempt the tracing of affinities and lines of migration 

 it is plain that this would involve much pure speculation and, with the material 

 at present available, so little of certainty that this had best be left for future 

 students. To the extent that we have species occurring in adjacent territory 

 or for which there may be evident affinities, we can make suggestions in con- 

 nection with particular species. In a general way we can be assured that the 

 Samoan Cicadellid fauna has its affinities with other islands of the South Pacific, 

 but we have a number of forms not known from other regions and for them we 

 may postulate an endemic evolution. 



The literature for Cicadelhdae of Samoa is very meagre and it would seem 

 that little attention to this group has been given in the past. Only scattered 

 records for individual species have come to my notice and, while I have not 



II. 4—1 



