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Spittlebug (Meadow)

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Philaenus spumarius
Spittlebug (Meadow)

Range

They are found in the Northeastern U.S. states south to Florida; the West Coast to the north central states across to nearby Canada.

Habitat

They live in fields, meadows and farmlands, anywhere plants grow.

Body Traits

They are less than a half-inch long and oval-shaped. They have short, little antennae. Adults are brown, young nymphs are light green.

Habits

Newly hatched young (nymphs) cover themselves with a bubbly froth they make. It protects them from dry air, predators, and parasites.

Diet

They suck the juice out of many different plants.

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District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females lay the eggs in the fall on food plant. They survive the winter and hatch in the spring.

Spittlebug (Meadow)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class:  Insecta
Order:  Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder: Cicadomorpha
Superfamily: Cercopoidea
Family: Aphrophoridae
Genus:  Philaenus
Species: P. spumarius

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