Spittle-masses

Guides

• Cercopidae

  froghoppers, spittlebugs

  Cercopidae is the largest family of Cercopoidea, a group of xylem-feeding insects in the hemipteran suborder Auchenorrhyncha. Commonly called froghoppers or spittlebugs, these insects are known for the frothy protective masses produced by nymphs and the powerful jumping ability of adults. A 2023 phylogenetic study elevated the New World subfamily Ischnorhininae to full family status as Ischnorhinidae, leaving Cercopidae sensu stricto as a monophyletic Old World group comprising two subfamilies: Cercopinae and Cosmoscartinae. Members are significant agricultural pests of forage grasses, sugarcane, and turfgrass throughout tropical and subtropical regions.

  xylem-feedingjumping-insectsagricultural-pestsspittle-masseshemimetabolousvectorforage-grass-pestssugarcane-peststurfgrass-pestsOld-World-distribution2023-taxonomic-revisionIschnorhinidae-split