Bug (Spittlebug) Philaenus species
Species: Philaenus spumarius and Philaenus leucophthalmus
Common name: Meadow Spittlebug, Froghoppers
There are about 2400 species of spittlebugs or froghoppers world wide and about 15 in New Zealand
These insects are best known for their nymph stage, which produces a cover of frothed-up plant sap resembling spit. The nymphs are therefore commonly known as spittlebugs, or spit bugs, and their froth as cuckoo spit, frog spit or snake spit.
The frothy bubbles (sometimes call cuckoo spit ) is the intriguing thing about this insect. The nymph produces this protective covering in a most remarkable manner by forcing a combination of fluid from the anus and a gluey gland excretion out under pressure, as from a bellows, to make uniform bubbles. The tail pumps up and down to operate the bellows and keep the bubbles coming one every second, and the nymph is soon hidden under a mound of white foam, protected from the sun and from insect predators. The insect can only breath by taking air from one of the larger bubbles or from air at the surface of the foam. The froth also insulates against heat and cold, thus providing thermal control and also moisture control. Without the froth the bug would quickly dry up.
The nymphs pierce plants and suck sap causing damage, and much of the excess filtered fluids go into the production of the froth, which has an acrid taste, deterring predators. In New Zealand they are not serious pests.
Adult spittlebugs can fly or jump from plant to plant; some species can jump up to 70 cm vertically (100 times their length): a more impressive performance relative to body weight than fleas. This means they are exerting a force 400 times their body weight. This accelerate is at 4000 m/s2 over 2mm and is equivalent to an average-sized human leaping over a 210-metre building.
A photo of a spittlebug nymph in its final development stage when it is developing wings. The nymph is inside its protective bubble shield. How nymphs make these bubbles is illustrated in a photo at the bottom of this page.
Foam of Philaenus spumarius on seed head of Plantago lanceolata
Spittle foam with early stage nymph inside. The nymph is the yellow mass on the left.
The nymph coming out of its foam protection.
Spittle bug nymph
The last stage of a nymph before becoming an adult.
An adult Meadow Spittlebug on watercress
This photos below is of an adult of the NZ species Philaenus leucophthalmus
Photos showing how a spittlebug nymph exudes excess moisture by extending its abdomen and then contacts it forcing out a bubble making gluey liquid and gas from its anus.