Spittlebugs
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April 27, 2024
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Spittlebugs may show up on your plants in springtime. What you will see is a frothy white mass. Inside is the immature spittlebug. Spittlebugs suck enough plant juices to produce the foam. The watery foam keeps the nymph from drying out. And the foam tastes bad, so it keeps away most animals that would eat them.
Remember that many insects have three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The adult insect is called a froghopper because it looks like a tiny frog jumping on a leaf. The adults are inconspicuous, often green or brown, about one-quarter inch long. They may feed and move around plants for up to six months.
Spittlebugs do not cause significant damage to the plant. They can be handpicked or washed off with a strong stream of water. Spittlebugs occur throughout the United States and can at least occasionally be found on almost any plant.
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Katie Martin