CHAP. VI - Hemiptera—Homoptera

Summary

Sub-order 2. Homoptera

Two pairs of wings usually sloping roof-like over the back when at rest; wingless forms also present. Rostrum arises from the hinder part of the lower side of the head; metamorphosis incomplete, but slightly more developed than in the Heteroptera.

Family Jassidae. Leaf Hoppers

One of the most abundant forms of the order. They are very active, small and slender insects, usually tapering towards the hinder end. They may be distinguished by the shape of the tibiae which are angular, the hind pair possessing a row of spines on each margin.

Jassids are seldom serious pests of farm crops, though they are always present in greater or lesser numbers upon potatoes. Two species are briefly dealt with, less because of the damage they cause which is slight, than because they may later assume importance as potential vectors of virus diseases. (See Chapter xiv.) Potato leaf hoppers, the only ones considered here, are mostly green or yellow, they are winged in the adult stage. The young forms are wingless and pale in colour and are always found on the under sides of the leaves.

Chlorita viridula Fall.

DESCRIPTION. Adult. Green with pale or white markings on the head, pronotum and scutellum; a spot in the apex of the sub-costal and supra-brachial areas, a large sub-triangular spot in the apex of the brachial area, the membrane hyaline, the latter tinged with fuscous; white silky hairs on the apex of the male genital plates with some erect bristles. (Edwards (9).) Length 3 mm.

Eupteryx auratus Liv.

DESCRIPTION. Adult. Fore parts yellow or greenish yellow, sides and apex of the frons sometimes black, on the crown two large black spots, which occasionally run together behind; on the pronotum a large black spot on each side which is sometimes kidney-shaped, there is often a pair of black points near the front margin; scutellum with two large black spots at the base; elytra yellow or greenish yellow, with a wide irregular fuscous stripe down the middle, on the costa near the base an oblique black line, and just beyond the middle a large black spot, on the middle of the inner margin a round black spot; abdomen black, hind margins of the segments narrowly yellow, genital plates yellow; legs entirely yellow. (Edwards (9).) Length 4 mm.