Spittlebugs

Spittlebug froth, Cercopidae

Spittlebugs are the nymph stage of froghoppers, named for the mass of spittle used to protect themselves from drying out. In the family Cercopidae, these native pests often appear around May and June. The adult form, which does not produce spittle, is around July to August. They can be distinguished from leafhoppers by the shorter hind tibiae which have strong lateral spines. While the nymph stages may slow plant growth and distort plants, they do not cause enough harm to justify treatment. As a native species, the natural enemies, of which include parasitic wasps and fungal diseases, help control the population.