meadow spittlebug

(Philaenus spumarius)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

 
meadow spittlebug
Photo by Babette Kis
 
Description

Meadow spittlebug is a small jumping insect. It is widespread across Europe, Asia, and North America. In the United States is most common east of the Great Plains and west of the Rocky Mountains. Minnesota marks the western extent of its eastern range in the U.S. In Minnesota, it is common to abundant in the east, mostly absent from the west.

The adult is wedge-shaped, heavy-bodied, and about long. It has a blunt, rounded head, large eyes, and very short antennae. It has specialized, needle-like mouth parts enabling it to suck on plant parts. The body is usually tan to dull brown, sometimes gray or mottled. The markings are highly variable, but generally it is patterned with brown, black, and white. There are only 1 or 2 spines on the hind tibia. The wings have raised veins and are held like a tent over the body.

The nymph is shaped similar to the adult but is smaller, about ¼ long. In the first stage (instar) of growth the nymph is orange and wingless. In the second through fourth stages it is yellow and wingless. In the fifth (last) stage it is pale green and it develops wings. Nymphs produce frothy masses (spittle). The spittle may contain one or several nymphs, and is the primary indication of the presence of spittlebugs.

 

Size

Total length:

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Parks, meadows, gardens, fields, marshes, and swamps.

Biology

Season

Early June through late September

 

Behavior

Adults do not produce spittle. They are relatively slow moving, but are the champion jumpers among insects, able to jump up to 27½ vertically. The jump is powerful, generating up to 400 gravities, and produces an audible thump.

 

Life Cycle

Only one generation is produced each year. In late August and September, masses of up to 18 to 51 eggs are deposited 3 to 6 above the ground between a leaf sheath and stem of a host plant. The eggs overwinter and hatch in late April and May. Newly hatched nymphs immediately begin feeding where they hatch, near the base of the plant. They pierce the plant and suck on the sap. Later, they move up the plant, seeking sheltered, humid areas, such as leaf sheaths and folded leaves, or producing masses of spittle on tender foliage and blossom clusters. The spittle protects the nymphs from predators and from drying out. The nymph matures in June after 5 to 8 weeks. Most infected plants wilt and become stunted, resulting in reduced yield.

 

Nymph Food

A wide variety of plants, but especially red clover and alfalfa.

 

Adult Food

Over 400 species of plants, especially red clover, alfalfa, wheat, common oat, corn, and garden strawberry.

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

9/22/2024    
     

Occurrence

Widespread and common to abundant

Taxonomy

Order

Hemiptera (true bugs, hoppers, aphids, and allies)

Suborder

Auchenorrhyncha (true hoppers)

Infraorder

Cicadomorpha (spittlebugs, cicadas, leafhoppers and treehoppers)

Superfamily

Cercopoidea (spittlebugs and froghoppers)

Family

Aphrophoridae (true spittlebugs)

Subfamily

Aphrophorinae

Tribe

Philaenini

Genus

Philaenus

   

Subordinate Taxa

meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius fasciatus)

meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius gibbus)

meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius lateralis)

meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius populellus)

meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius vittatus)

   

Synonyms

Cicada spumarius

   

Common Names

common froghopper

cuckoo spit

meadow froghopper

meadow spittlebug

spittlebug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Tibia

The fourth segment of an insect leg, after the femur and before the tarsus (foot).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Alfredo Colon

meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug
     
meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug

Babette Kis

meadow spittlebug   meadow spittlebug

Meadow spittlebug Philaenus spurmarius

Philaenus spurmarius, meadow spittlebug, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

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meadow spittlebug  

 

 

Camera

Slideshows

Meadow Spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius)
Andree Reno Sanborn

Meadow Spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius)

 

slideshow

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Other Videos

Wiesenschaumzikade (Philaenus spumarius)
Chrigu wälti

About

Published on Dec 5, 2012

Wiesenschaumzikade (Philaenus spumarius)

http://www.Tierportraet.ch

Meadow Spittlebug (Aphrophoridae: Philaenus spumarius) Adult
Carl Barrentine

About

Uploaded on May 27, 2010

Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (27 May 2010). Go here to learn more about this species: http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/m...

Meadow Spittlebug Nymph (Cercopidae: Philaenus spumarius) on Clover
Carl Barrentine

About

Uploaded on Jun 15, 2011

This is an early instar nymph. Go here to see a larger image of this organism: http://bugguide.net/node/view/507202/bgimage / Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (14 June 2011).

Meadow Spittlebug (Cercopidae: Philaenus spumarius) on Grass Stem
Carl Barrentine

About

Uploaded on Jun 30, 2010

Photographed at Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (30 June 2010). Go here to learn more about this species: http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/meadow_spittlebug.html

 

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Visitor Sightings
 

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Alfredo Colon
6/10/2024

Location: Albany, NY

meadow spittlebug
Alfredo Colon
8/7/2022

Location: Albany, NY

meadow spittlebug
Alfredo Colon
8/2/2022

Location: Albany, NY

meadow spittlebug
Alfredo Colon
8/2/2022

Location: Albany, NY

meadow spittlebug
Babette Kis
6/26/2022

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Philaenus spurmarius, meadow spittlebug, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

meadow spittlebug
Babette Kis
6/22/2021

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Philaenus spurmarius, meadow spittlebug, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

meadow spittlebug
Alfredo Colon
6/2/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

meadow spittlebug
Alfredo Colon
8/2/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

meadow spittlebug
Alfredo Colon
Summer 2018

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

meadow spittlebug
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

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Created: 3/18/2019

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