yucca.downloads.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/1892/042514.pdf · 2019. 8. 1. · dr. uhler as oecleus...

November 353

H.-S. in that the fore wings are much darker.The male has no white markings except theapical streak, and the transverse lines, usualin the Notodontidae, can be seen faintlycrossing the wing, while in P. dimidiata

they are quite obsolete except at the internalmargin. T.a. line very faint, defined by theinner edge of the black cellular patch, obso-

lete below median vein, but below submedianfold very distinct, white, sharply producedinward and bordering the fawn colored patch.T. p. line from costa along discal cross vein,either straight or sharply dentate on theveins, lost between veins 2and 3, but distincon internal margin in a short white dash,reaching internal vein.

OVIPOSITION OF /k HOMOPTEROUS INSECT IN YUCCA.

BY C. H. TYLER TOWNSEND LAS CRUCES N. MEXo

On May 5;, 89, a grayish homopterousinsect, one of the Fulgoridae, or lantern-flies,was found very numerous on leaves of Yuccaangustifol/a. It was also found on T’. mac-rocarlba (?)*. Specimens are determined byDr. Uhler as Oecleus decens Stal.At the same date on which the insects

were found, it was noticed that the leaves of2". angustifolia were largely covered withvery small patches of a pure white, woolly or

cottony, fluffy material, arranged in more orless irregular rows. They were found to bepunctures consisting of slightly raised swell-ings of the surface of the leaf, each swellingbeing marked by this cottony covering. Theyexhibited much the general appearance, atfirst sight, of colonies of a small whitecottony scale. These are the egg-punctures.They are always placed on the upper side ofthe leaf, and usually, if not always, near thetip or point. Superficial examination showsonly this woolly, snow-white, fluffy sub-stance, apparently containing nothing, butcovering the slightly raised puncture in theleaf. The above fulgorid was found whereverthis woolly material occurred, usuallyon and about it, and consequently raised thequestion in my mind of some connectionbetween the two.On May , the punctures were carefully

examined and found to contain eggs. The

This species may be r. baccata.

egg measures } ram. in length, by ram. inwidth. Examination on May 5 had dis-closed no eggs whatever, and imagine that

they were not yet all deposited at that date.The presence of the insects would perhapsindicate that they were in the act of ovipos-iting and preparing the leaves for the recep-tion of the eggs. The leaves of Y. macro-

carja (?) contained, at that date, no

punctures. Though I Imve not at any timeobserved the insects making these punctures,I still feel confident that the latter belongto this fulgorid, since there is no other insect

frequenting the Yuccas that could make them.I may add that have found the abdominalsaws or pincers of a female specimen withsome of the same white fluffy substance stilladhering to them.On May 3, plants of 1Gcca auguslifolia

were found to be thickly oviposited in.

Some plants had the tips of nearly every leafcovered with the white fluffy material.Numbers of this insect were present, manyof them on the punctured portions.On June 2, similar egg punctures were

found on the leaves of Yucca rnacrocara (?)marked by the same woolly material. Threespecimens of an Oecleus, which Dr. Uhlersays is the same as O. decens, were foundclustered on the woolly punctures. Theywere, however, decidedly smaller than those

previously found, and which had occurredonly on Y. angustifolia. I was inclined to

354 _PSY [November i89,z

consider them a distinct species, since theywere of uniform size among themselves.Only one specimen of this smaller kind hadbeen found before this date, but it was taken,May 3o, on an isolated plant of Y’. angusti-folia, alone and solitary. I will thereforenot attempt to prove any distinction betweenthe two forms, which may be only the twosexes of the same species, and apparently arefrom an examination of the genitalia.The punctures are sometimes placed in

rows, but usually only when near the tips ofthe narrow leaves of 2". aust/blia. Theyare most often massed together over thewhole upper distal surface of the leaf, andare always placed very closely together.Each patch or tuft of the cottony substancewhich marks a puncture is usually from mm.

to ram. in diameter, and about ram. thickor slightly more.

This white, flutist material is extremely

fine in texture, and I was at first inclined tobelieve that it was simply the natural veryfine and silken fiber of the Yucca leaf, cardedout by the ovipositor of the female Oecleus.Arere this so, it would be quite interesting asexhibiting in a state of nature the beautiful,delicate, silken fiber which these plants arecapable of yielding. I believe, however,that it is a :uice, either from the leaf or fromthe insect, probably the former, whichhardens on exposure to the air. It is seem-ingly soluble in water, and is probably onlythe hardened sap of the Yucca leaf.

In conclusion, it might be said that theconstant watchfulness with which the Oecleusseems to attend upon and frequent the vicin-ity of its egg-punctures, even after the eggshave for days been deposited, is suggestiveof a motherly instinct and seems a manifes-tation of parental care in the hatching of theyoung.

The Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada.With special reference to New England. By SAMUEL H. SCUDDER.

Illustrated with 96 plates of Butterflies, Caterpillars, Chrysalids, etc. (of which 41 arecolored) which include about 2,ooo Figures besides Maps and Portraits. I958 Pages of Text.

Vol. . Introduction; Nymphalidae.Vol. 2. Remaining Families of Butterflies.Vol. 3. Appendix, Plates and Index.

The set, 3 vols., royal 8vo, half levant, $75.oo net.

HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO.,4 Park St., Boston, Mass.

RIIOPAL0CERA.Rhopalocera from Europe, New Grenada, Sik-

kim, Assam Palo Nias, British Guiana, CongoFree State and various Polynesian Islands. Cor-respondents will oblige by stating desiderata. Nopost cards.

DR. J. T. T. REED,Ryhope, Sunderland, England.

AD VER TI&EM]z’WT.Undersigned wishes to obtain either by exchange

or for cash Cicindelidae and rare Carabidae fromall parts of the U.S. Lists please address to

A. LUETGENS,ao7 E. x$ Street N. Y. City.

TIlE NEW .ENGLAND SPIDERS.

By j. H. EMERTON.

In seven parts from the Transactions of the Con-necticut Academy of Arts and Sciences Vols. VIVII and VIII containing descriptions of 340 specieswith 4oo figures.

Price for the whole $5.o% or either part soldseparately. Sent by mail on receipt of price.

j. H. EMERTON,Boston Mass.

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