ELM LEAF-HOPPERS. 281 
59. Pceciloptera pruinosa Say. 
Order Hemiptera ; suborder Homoptera ; family Fulgorid^e. 
The following notes are from Professor Riley : 
Numerous larvae of this insect were noticed to infest the twigs and leaves of elm 
and Celtis, June 20, 1883, on the Agricultural grounds at Washington, D. C. They 
are also stationed on the lower side of both leaves and twigs, generally in larger or 
smaller colonies. They are white or pale greenish, with pale-brown eyes and black 
or brown claws. They are covered with a white, thread-like excretion, which at the 
end of the body forms a compact tuft. This excretion adheres only slightly to the 
insect, and is readily displaced if the insect is touched or is moving about. By the 
3d of July they become fully grown, and vary considerably in color, some remaining 
white, whilst others acquire a pale grayish-blue color. The same insect was also 
noticed to feed on maple, red clover, Erigeron canadense, and quite a number of 
other low plants and shrubs. It is attacked by a species of Gonatopus, which feeds 
on them externally, and is generally attached in the region of the wing pads. Before 
preparing for pupation they cast their skin, which remains in position on their host, 
and form underneath it, on the leaf or branch, a circular, very low, convex, semi- 
transparent cocoon, which is covered with the white excretion of their host, render- 
ing thereby their detection rather difficult. The perfect insect issues in July. A 
second external parasite is a small red mite which appears to be the young form of 
a Trombidium. One of these mites was noticed to have settled on the eye of one of 
the larvae. It has only six legs, a free, small head, with stout three-jointed palpi, 
and a very curious sucking mouth ; it is circular, apparently concave on its lower 
side, and its margin closely beset with lancet-shaped spines. (Unpublished notes.) 
60. The three-banded leaf hopper. 
Typhlocyba tricincta (Fitch). 
Order Hemiptera ; family Cercopidjs. 
About the middle of June, this pale-yellow leaf hopper, distinguished 
by two transverse dusky bands (one across the middle and one at the 
tips of the wing-covers) and a dusky cloud upon the scutellum, was 
abundant enough upon the leaves of the white elm at Normal to do 
considerable damage. This species, described by Fitch in his third 
report as State entomologist of New York (p. 74), was originally 
found by him in abundance on raspberry and currant bushes, and on 
grape-vines. (Forbes' Third Eeport.) 
61. The elm gall-mite. 
Phytoptus wZwtiGarman. 
Mr. H. Garman describes this species (Forbes' First Eeport Insects 
of Illinois) as follows : 
Produces galls on the leaves of the white elm, Ulmus americana Linn. 
A slender species, with from 67 to 70 striae. Prongs of the feather-like tarsal 
appendage, three. Length of specimens preserved in alcohol . I7 mm . 
In general form this gall resembles that found on the leaves of the soft maple, but 
it is smaller, more slender, and contracts less abruptly to the neck. It is from .077 to 
