neverspent (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
neverspent) wrote2010-05-22 01:46 pm
neverspent) wrote2010-05-22 01:46 pm
May 22: Spittlebugs
Hairy hawkweed, a cute flower that looks like yellow chicory, and goat's rue, a relative of the pea with huge yellow and pink blossoms, are blooming by the road now.
Today I also noticed spittlebug nymphs in several places. I assume that's what they are, though I never see the actual nymphs. They're surrounded by a glob of what looks like frothy saliva, and sometimes there's a drop of clear liquid hanging on to the bottom of the glob. I saw one under the seed pod of a stalk of beardtongue, one under a blackberry leaf, and one on a stem of young milkweed. Apparently these insect nymphs combine sap and some hormonal secretion with air they pump out of their bodies, and it forms the protective glob of bubbles. The adults are also called froghoppers, though I don't think I've ever heard anyone around here identify one that way. Different kinds of spittlebugs (Aphrophoridae) live all over the world. I'm almost certain I saw some in England or Scotland while I was there.
I found a good photo of the spittle on Flickr. I remember finding it different places when I was quite young. I'm sure any kid who plays outside notices some every once in awhile.
Today I also noticed spittlebug nymphs in several places. I assume that's what they are, though I never see the actual nymphs. They're surrounded by a glob of what looks like frothy saliva, and sometimes there's a drop of clear liquid hanging on to the bottom of the glob. I saw one under the seed pod of a stalk of beardtongue, one under a blackberry leaf, and one on a stem of young milkweed. Apparently these insect nymphs combine sap and some hormonal secretion with air they pump out of their bodies, and it forms the protective glob of bubbles. The adults are also called froghoppers, though I don't think I've ever heard anyone around here identify one that way. Different kinds of spittlebugs (Aphrophoridae) live all over the world. I'm almost certain I saw some in England or Scotland while I was there.
I found a good photo of the spittle on Flickr. I remember finding it different places when I was quite young. I'm sure any kid who plays outside notices some every once in awhile.