136 
Psyche 
[March 
Haviland’s (1925) observations suggested females of Guayaquila 
compressa Walker may protect eggs. Although detailed observa- 
tions were not reported, she clearly indicates females relocate 
offspring and that nymphs readily disperse when disturbed. Such 
reports require detailed confirmation before attempting a systematic 
analysis of the types of parental investment within Membracoidea. 
Methods 
The study site was a lowland wet forest at Finca, LaSelva, a field 
station of the Organization for Tropical Studies in the province of 
Heredia in Costa Rica. G. compressa was always found in succes- 
sional or edge areas along the forest on the following host plants: 
Alchornea sp., Pterocarpus officinalis, Theobroma cacao, Eu- 
phorbiaceae and an unidentified vine. Branches or leaves with 
insects were marked and observations were made daily for 2 to 16 
days. Observations of 17 different females on eggs or with nymphs 
were made during 2 separate trips in August 1976 and 1977. 
Extensive attempts to increase numbers were made, but individuals 
tended to be on isolated trees some distance from each other. 
Results 
Females on egg masses — Eggs are deposited by females in masses 
surrounded or embedded in a sticky, white matrix on top of plant 
tissue (Figs. 1 and 2). Two egg masses contained 78 and 88 eggs. 
Ovipositional sites varied; 6 females placed eggs on the underside of 
mature leaves on top of the main midrib, while 4 others placed egg 
masses on branches 6 to 12 inches from the apical meristem. 
Females sat on egg masses and usually faced the leaf petiole or the 
apex of the branch. In 1 egg mass, eggs hatched 12 days after 
deposition, while 9 others were observed for 7 to 10 days before eggs 
hatched. All egg masses which hatched had females present, while 1 
egg mass where the female was removed failed to hatch. A portion 
of this egg mass without a female was damaged (as if eaten by a 
predator) the following day and developed mold growth during the 
subsequent 6 days of observation. This egg mass, deposited within 3 
days of an egg mass which hatched, was followed long enough that 
if there were viable eggs, they should have hatched. 
