August, '15] CROSBY & HADLEY: LEPTOBYRSA EXPLANATA 



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Mr. Dunbar states that he observed the young nymphs on May 25, 

 1906, on rhododendrons in Hyland Park, Rochester, N. Y. In hatch- 

 ing, the end of the egg enlarges sHghtly, becoming almost transparent. 

 Then the nymph gradually emerges, the red eye-spots showing very 

 conspicuously. The body sways back and forth slowly, during emer- 

 gence, with sHght spasmodic movements. When all the body has 

 emerged except the last two or three segments, the spines along the 

 sides of the body and the legs unfold and stiffen out. Then the leaf sur- 

 face is grasped by the claws of the legs, and the insect is able with this 

 help to withdraw the body entirely. Often the egg shell is drawn partly 

 out of its pocket by this last effort. The newly emerged insect rests 

 for several minutes after its exertions, then it slowly walks around, 

 seeking a suitable feeding place. When first emerged the nymph is 

 colorless, almost transparent, except for the bright red eyes. Soon 

 after feeding commences, it begins to darken up. 



The nymphs feed in groups, remaining in a place a short time, then 

 moving to a new location. The characteristic feeding attitude is with 

 the body inclined upward towards the head, the antennae straight 

 outward slightly diverging. At intervals the body sways slightly from 

 side to side. After feeding a short time, the proboscis is withdrawn, 

 and the slender inner sucking tube is carefully cleaned with the fore- 

 feet, in much the same fashion as the ordinary house fly. 



Description of Nymphal Stages 



First stage. — Length, 0.75 mm. At first nearly colorless but gradually becoming 

 darker at base of legs and at base and tip of antennae and beak, abdomen appearing 

 greenish from the ingesta. Head rounded in front, narrowed behind the eyes, armed 

 with five strong tubercles, two above the base of beak, one just behind these bearing 

 two hairs and two near the posterior margin. Eyes consisting of five distinct omma- 

 tidia, bright red, prominent. Thorax a httle narrower than abdomen. On each 

 thoracic segment and on each abdominal except the first there is on each side near 

 the lateral margin a simple hair borne on a minute tubercle. On the mesothorax 

 there is a median pair of small hairs. On abdominal segments 2, 5, 6 and 8 there is 

 a large double median tubercle bearing at its tip two short hairs. All these hairs 

 secrete a sticky substance which hangs as a clear drop at the end. Antennae three- 

 fourths the length of the body, four-jointed, the two basal segments short, third the 

 longest, fourth shghtly more than half as long as the third. Beak in newly hatched 

 specimens nearly as long as body, after feeding reaching only to second abdominal 

 segment. 



Second stage. — Length 0.9 mm. In general much hke first stage except that lateral 

 margin of abdomen is shghtly more explanate and the dusky parts have become 

 darker. Abdomen and lateral part of thorax dusky. The tubercles on the head are 

 much longer, quite slender and of a dusky color. The lateral tubercles on the pro- 

 and mesothorax and on abdominal segments 4-9 are much larger, those on the meta- 

 thorax and on abdominal segments 2 and 3 are small. There seems to be no tubercle 

 on the first abdominal segment. The dorsal tubercle is much larger than in preceding 

 stage and bears four or five hairs. The dorsal abdominal tubercles are much larger 

 and bear a cluster of hairs, the one on the second segment being smaller than the 



