Ptyelini
Guides
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.