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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
49
This
insect
is
the
tree-hopper,
and
is
but
one
of
many
equally
curious
and
mimetic
species
to
be
found
among
the
smaller
branches
of
various
trees
and
shrubs.
Our
largest
membracis
is
to
be
seen--with
difficulty--on
the
terminal
twigs
of
the
locust-tree,
its
outlines
so
exactly
imitating
the
thorny
growths
of
the
branch
as
to
escape
detection
even
by
the
closest
scrutiny.
Another
remarkable
species
is
a
protege
of
the
oak,
so
closely
simulating
the
warty
bark
of
the
smaller
branches
upon
which
it
is
found
that
our
eyes
may
rest
upon
it
repeatedly
without
recognizing
it.
The
life
history
of
these
singular
insects
is
quite
similar,
and
is
soon
told.
The
membracis
belongs
to
the
tribe
of
"Bugs,"
Hemiptera,
which
implies
that
it
possesses
a
beak
instead
of
jaws,
by
which
it
sucks
the
sap
of
plants,
precisely
like
the
aphis,
or
plant-louse.
This
tiny
beak
we
can
readily
distinguish
bent
beneath
the
body
of
our
bittersweet
hopper.
Inserting
it
deep
into
the
succulent
bark,
the
parasite
remains
for
hours
as
motionless
as
the
thorn
it
imitates,
the
lower
outline
of
its
body
hugging
close
against
the
bark.
The
curious
suggestion
of
the
thorn
is
produced
not
only
by
the
outline,
but
by
the
curious
fact
that
the
hopper
never
sits
across
the
twig,
but
always
in
the
direction
of
its
length;
and,
what
is
more,
the
projecting
point
of
the
thorax
is
always
directed
towards
the
end
of
the
branch,
or
direction
of
growth.
It
is
no
easy
thing
even
for
the
casual
botanist
to
determine
this
nice
point
in
a
given
segment
of
a
bittersweet
branch
placed
in
his
hand,
the
position
of
the
chance
leaf
or
leaf
scar
being
his
only
guide.
But
the
Membracis
binotata
rarely--indeed
never,
so
far
as
I
have
examined--makes
a
mistake.
Thus
the
wandering
spray
of
bittersweet,
recurve
and
twist
upon
itself
as
it
may,
will
always
disclose
the
little
hopper
or
colony
of
them
headed
for
its
tip.
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