28 
The insect is widely distributed in the East, but usually is not abun- 
dant enough to seriously injure the «tree. When they become excess- 
ively abundant they cause the leaves and fruit to dry and fall. The 
adult insect hibernates in crevices of the bark. These overwintering 
specimens are brownish-black in color, with bronzy eyes. They emerge 
from their hiding places in the early spring, mate, and the female begins 
to lay eggs before the leaves are ont. The eggs are placed singly or 
in groups in crevices of the bark of the twigs or in old leaf scars, and, 
when the leaves have unfolded, upon the leaves themselves. The larvae 
hatch in about two weeks and begin to suck the juices from the leaves 
and petioles. They at once commence to excrete honey-dew, and 
when the insects are extremely numerous the amount of liquid secreted 
is enormous and fairly rains from the 
tree. A black fungus grows on the 
honey-infested leaves and tree, so that 
the whole soon has a smoked appear- 
ance. In about thirty days the larva 
becomes adult. Development contin- 
ues all through the summer, and there 
may be as many a live broods if the 
season be long enough. It is only 
known to attack the pear. 
FAMILY MEMBRACID^E. 
THE BUFFALO TREE-HOPPER. 
(Geresa bubalus Say — fig. 18.) 
Upon young fruit trees, particularly 
the apple, one sometimes sees a series 
of oval or elliptical scars that disfigure 
and weaken the branches and render 
them liable to other insect attack. 
These scars are the results of the work of a curious insect, the buffalo 
tree-Lopper. It is a grass-green, triangular insect that hops and flies 
away when disturbed. The pronotum of the thorax is enlarged, as 
with others of this family, to cover the head and most of the abdomen. 
The anterior corners of the pronotum project laterally into acute 
angles. In August and September the adult insects may be found on 
the trees engaged in oviposition. The female cuts the bark with 
her ovipositor in two nearly opposite curved slits, so that the bark 
between is cut loose. Beneath each slit she deposits a series of from 
6 to 12 eggs. These eggs hatch in the spring. The dead piece of 
bark falls out and leaves the elliptical scar, which enlarges with the 
subsequent growth of the twigs and becomes an inviting point for 
the attack of other insects. There is but one brood each year. 
Fig. 18.— Ceresa bubalis: a, insect; b, recent 
puncture^ c, eggs; e, old scars. (Marlatt.) 
