A HISTORY OF ESSEX which they suck the juices ; but some of them prey upon other insects, and one has conferred an evil reputation upon the rest from its too assiduous attentions to mankind. Some are winged, but are not so frequently found flying as other insects ; others have only rudimentary wings and elytra, and a few are altogether wingless. Although they are mainly attached to land plants, a good many are found in or on the surface of the water. Among the more notable Essex species are Ettrygaster maura, which has been swept from mint at St. Osyth ; JElia acuminata, which occurs on the coast, and has also been beaten from birch at Colchester. A single specimen of Pentatotna fuscispina was taken at St. Osyth on August 19, 1901. Of this fine insect only six British specimens were previously recorded, all from Devonshire. The rare Strachia oleracea has been found near Clacton-on-Sea, where Beosus luscus may not unfrequently be met with. The very beautiful Zicrona ccerulea has been captured at Dedham. Henestaris laticeps and Ceraleptus Irvidus are coast insects, and the curious Chorosoma schilling} may be met with freely on the flower heads of the marram and other seaside grasses. Dictyonota fuliginosa, for which Weybridge is the only recorded locality, has several times been found, and the rare Monanthia ciliata once only. A macropterous example of Nabis brevipenms, which is usually micropterous in this country, and concerning which Saunders says, ' I have never seen a fully developed British specimen,' has occurred, and a similar fully developed specimen of N. latrventris. Probably the high temperature of some recent summers may have produced these unusual forms. N. lineatus is occasionally to be found on the coast sands, while Lopus jtavomargin- afus, which is usually considered local and scarce, seems to be widely distributed in the northern part of the county. HOMOPTERA The Homopterous section of the Hemiptera includes the frog- hoppers and cuckoo-spits. They are mostly of small size, the strange looking Ledra aurlta being our largest Essex species. This is by no means common, but may sometimes be found in oak woods in the autumn. Issus coleoptratus is another curiously formed insect, which occurs somewhat freely near Colchester. Triecphora vu/nerata, our most beautiful native species, is common throughout the summer. The universally distributed Pbilcenus spumarius, commonly known as the ' spittle-bug,' is also worthy of notice. The larva of this species, which advertises its presence by surrounding itself with a frothy secretion, is said by all the gamekeepers about Colchester to be fatal to young pheasants if they eat it, and according to them large numbers actually do perish every year from this cause. All species included in the list which follows have occurred in the Colchester district except where other localities are given : 186
