Cuckoo Spit-The Amazing Froghopper

Cuckoo Spit-The Amazing Froghopper

Image source: By Kaldari - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7199062

1. Named because of its frog- like head and jumping ability; also green.

2. Feeds using a stabbing, sucking beak- like structure.

3. Insects have developed ingenious ways of defending themselves from their innumerable enemies, who are ever ready to make a meal of them. The Frog-hopper is a tiny bug less than a quarter of an inch long living on trees and plants hopping from place to place like a tiny frog. When it is young, the Frog-hopper has no wings or legs to help it to escape from enemies. So, it has developed a remarkable method of protecting itself. It builds a 'bubble fortress' around itself and remains safe inside.

Nymph

Image source: By Diliff - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40494161

4. The nymphs are very successful in avoiding predators. They have to consume so much plant sap, the excess is exuded to form a frothy protective cocoon like 'spit'. Sometimes called 'cuckoo spit' although it has nothing to do with cuckoos. This covers plants when the nymphs hatch from their eggs in May.

Image source :By Pollinator - From en:Image:Spittlebug4383.JPG, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?

curid=2663457

5. Champion jumpers better than fleas - generates jumping force 414 x its body weight because of huge hind leg muscles.

6. Frog-hopper or spittle-bug balls are often observed on shrubbery or herbaceous plants, in waste or uncultivated fields.

7. The term "froghopper,"  which has grown out of the unfounded belief that spittle balls are voided by tree-frogs, is not inappropriate when applied to the adult bug because of its squat appearance and hopping ability.