Froghopper
Guides
Aeneolamia contigua
Aeneolamia contigua is a spittlebug species in the family Ischnorhinidae (formerly placed in Cercopidae). The genus Aeneolamia contains economically significant pests of pasture grasses and sugarcane in the Neotropics. This species is part of a group known for dense aggregations and damage to graminoid hosts through sap-feeding. Adults are robust with the characteristic compact body form of the tribe Tomaspidini.
Aphrophora alni
European alder spittle bug, alder spittlebug
Aphrophora alni is a froghopper in the family Aphrophoridae, commonly known as the European alder spittlebug. It is the most common and widespread of the four Aphrophora species in the UK and one of the larger froghoppers in its range. Adults are distinguished by a pale median keel on the head and pronotum, dark brown coloration, and two pale patches along the costal margin of the forewings. The species is polyphagous, feeding on deciduous trees as adults and herbaceous plants as larvae. Nymphs produce characteristic foam nests ('cuckoo spit') with adhesive properties of biotechnological interest. It has been recorded as a pest on alder and is a potential vector of the bacterial plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa.
Aphrophoridae
True Spittlebugs, Spittlebugs, Froghoppers
Aphrophoridae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as spittlebugs or froghoppers. The family contains at least 160 genera and 990 described species. Nymphs are called spittlebugs and produce characteristic frothy masses for protection, while adults are referred to as froghoppers. Many species are xylem sap feeders and some serve as vectors for plant pathogens, particularly Xylella fastidiosa, which causes diseases including olive quick decline syndrome.
Cephisus
spittlebug, froghopper
Cephisus is a genus of spittlebugs in the family Aphrophoridae, distinguished by producing exceptionally large frothy masses during the nymphal stage. Nymphs create these protective bubbles by siphoning air through a tubelike canal beneath the abdomen and mixing it with excreted plant fluids. The genus is the sole New World representative of the tribe Ptyelini, which has a broader distribution in Africa. Some species, notably C. siccifolia, can reach pest status on economically important plants including eucalyptus.
Cephisus laticeps
Cephisus laticeps is a species of froghopper (family Aphrophoridae) described by Hamilton in 2012. It belongs to the genus Cephisus, which is the sole New World representative of the tribe Ptyelini. Species in this genus are known for producing exceptionally large spittle masses as nymphs, with some reaching pest status on economically important plants. The specific epithet 'laticeps' refers to a broad-headed characteristic.
Cephisus variolosus
Cephisus variolosus is a large spittlebug (family Aphrophoridae) native to the Neotropics. Nymphs produce exceptionally large, frothy spittle masses on trees—substantially larger than those of temperate spittlebug species. The species has been recorded from Argentina, Brazil, and other South American countries, and occasionally reaches pest status on eucalyptus plantations. Adults have not been well described in available literature.
Clastoptera mineralis
Clastoptera mineralis is a recently described species of spittlebug in the family Clastopteridae, formally named in 2023. The genus Clastoptera contains species commonly known as spittlebugs or froghoppers, recognized for the nymphal habit of producing protective foam masses on vegetation. As a newly described species, detailed biological information remains limited. It belongs to a family of xylem-feeding insects that are frequently preyed upon by solitary wasps.
Clastoptera n-sp-az
Clastoptera n-sp-az is an undescribed species of spittlebug in the family Clastopteridae, recorded from Arizona. The genus Clastoptera comprises small, compact spittlebugs commonly known as 'spittlebugs' or 'froghoppers' due to the nymphal habit of producing protective foam masses. This species remains formally undescribed, indicating limited published information regarding its biology and distribution.
Clastoptera querci
Clastoptera querci is a species of spittlebug in the family Clastopteridae, described in 2020. The specific epithet "querci" indicates an association with oak (Quercus), suggesting a host relationship with oak trees. As a member of the spittlebug superfamily Cercopoidea, this species shares the characteristic nymphal habit of producing protective foam masses on host plants. The genus Clastoptera is the primary genus within its family and is distributed across North America.
Clastoptera salicis
Clastoptera salicis is a spittlebug species in the family Clastopteridae, described by Doering in 1926. The species is documented from Kansas and Missouri in North America. As a member of the genus Clastoptera, it produces protective froth during its nymphal stage. The specific epithet 'salicis' suggests an association with willow (Salix), though this host relationship requires confirmation.
Clastoptera sierra
Clastoptera sierra is a species of spittlebug in the family Clastopteridae, described by Doering in 1929. The genus Clastoptera comprises small, compact froghoppers commonly known as spittlebugs or froghoppers. Members of this family are characterized by their distinctive body shape and are associated with various host plants. C. sierra is known from California in the Sierra Nevada region.
Lepyronia
spittlebugs, froghoppers
Lepyronia is a genus of froghoppers (spittlebugs) in the family Aphrophoridae, comprising approximately 17 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Nymphs develop within protective spittle masses on host plant stems, feeding on xylem sap. The genus includes notable agricultural and forest pests, with at least one species confirmed as a vector of phytoplasma plant pathogens. Adults are active in mid-summer and are capable of jumping considerable distances.
Lepyronia coleoptrata
European spittlebug
Lepyronia coleoptrata is a spittlebug species in the family Aphrophoridae, native to Europe and Asia and introduced to northeast North America. Adults measure 5.1–7.8 mm and are pale brown with dark wing membranes. The species has one generation per year, with eggs hibernating under bark and larvae emerging in late April to early May. Nymphs produce characteristic foam masses while feeding on plant sap, primarily on lavender and other crops.
Lepyronia gibbosa
hill-prairie spittlebug, great plains spittlebug
Lepyronia gibbosa is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae. It is native to North America and commonly known as the hill-prairie spittlebug or great plains spittlebug. Like other spittlebugs, the nymphs produce a protective froth of bubbles from excreted plant sap and mucopolysaccharides, which conceals them from predators and desiccation. The species is associated with prairie and grassland habitats.
Neophilaenus
spittlebugs
Neophilaenus is a genus of spittlebugs (family Aphrophoridae) containing approximately 10 described species distributed primarily across the Palearctic region. Nymphs are known for producing characteristic foam masses ("cuckoo spit") that provide protection and moisture retention during development. Several species, particularly N. campestris and N. lineatus, have been extensively studied due to their role as vectors of the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa, which threatens Mediterranean agriculture including olive, almond, and grapevine crops. The genus exhibits temperature-dependent phenology, with development rates and adult emergence timing varying predictably with altitude and latitude.
Philaenarcys
prairie spittlebug
Philaenarcys is a genus of spittlebugs (family Aphrophoridae) established by Hamilton in 1979. The genus contains at least three described species, including the prairie spittlebug (P. bilineata). These insects are part of the froghopper group, known for their nymphs' production of protective spittle masses. The genus is placed in the tribe Philaenini within the subfamily Aphrophorinae.
Philaenini
Philaenini is a tribe of froghoppers (family Aphrophoridae) established by Metcalf in 1955. Members are classified within the subfamily Aphrophorinae of the spittlebug superfamily Cercopoidea. The tribe contains multiple genera of xylem-feeding insects known for nymphs that produce protective foam masses. These insects are part of the diverse Hemiptera fauna associated with woody and herbaceous plants.
Philaenus
meadow spittlebug, spittlebug, froghopper
Philaenus is a genus of spittlebugs in the family Aphrophoridae containing eight described species. The genus is best known for Philaenus spumarius (meadow spittlebug), a widespread insect in the Northern Hemisphere and the primary vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe. Most species exhibit striking color polymorphism with up to sixteen distinct phenotypes including dark, pale, mottled, and striped patterns. Nymphs produce protective foam masses from excreted xylem fluid and glandular secretions. The genus has been extensively studied for genetic diversity, climate change responses, and vector ecology.
Prosapia
froghoppers, spittlebugs
Prosapia is a genus of froghoppers (family Ischnorhinidae) comprising approximately six described species distributed across North and Central America, including the Caribbean. These insects are commonly known as spittlebugs due to the protective foamy masses produced by nymphs. Several species are significant agricultural pests of forage grasses, turfgrasses, and sugarcane, causing economic damage through xylem feeding that induces water stress, tissue death, and reduced forage quality. The genus includes the invasive two-lined spittlebug (P. bicincta), which established in Hawaiʻi in 2016 and has since damaged thousands of hectares of cattle pastures.
Prosapia bicincta
Two-lined Spittlebug, Twolined Spittlebug
Prosapia bicincta, commonly known as the two-lined spittlebug, is a froghopper in the family Ischnorhinidae (formerly Cercopidae). Native to the eastern United States, it was first detected in Hawaiʻi in 2016 and has since become a destructive invasive pest of pasture grasses, infesting over 70,000 hectares on Hawaiʻi Island. The species is named for the two prominent red or orange stripes crossing the black wings of adults and for the foamy spittle masses produced by nymphs. It causes significant economic damage to forage grasses, turfgrasses, and sugarcane through feeding that induces water stress, reduces photosynthesis, and causes plant tissue death.
Prosapia ignipecta
Red-legged Spittlebug, Black Spittlebug
Prosapia ignipecta, commonly known as the red-legged spittlebug or black spittlebug, is a species of froghopper in the family Ischnorhinidae. It is native to North America and is closely related to the economically significant twolined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta), which has become a destructive invasive pest in Hawaiian pastures. The species belongs to a genus containing several important pasture and turfgrass pests across the Americas.
Ptyelini
Ptyelini is a tribe of spittlebugs (family Aphrophoridae, order Hemiptera) characterized by large-bodied nymphs that produce copious amounts of frothy spittle. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed across the Old World tropics, with Cephisus being the sole representative genus in the New World. Members are xylem-feeding insects whose nymphal stage is concealed within protective spittle masses.