Spittlebug
Guides
Neophilaenus lineatus
lined spittlebug
Neophilaenus lineatus, commonly known as the lined spittlebug, is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae. It has a broad distribution spanning Europe, northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Studies indicate a two-year life cycle with subterranean root-feeding nymphs, unlike the annual cycle of some related species. The species shows sensitivity to temperature gradients, with developmental timing varying by altitude.
Paraphilaenus
Paraphilaenus is a genus of spittlebugs in the family Aphrophoridae, established by Vilbaste in 1962. The genus is currently monotypic, containing only Paraphilaenus notatus. Species in this genus are found in Central Asia. As a member of the tribe Philaenini, it shares affinities with the genus Philaenus, though it is distinguished by specific morphological and geographic characteristics.
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.
Philaenarcys bilineata
Prairie Spittlebug
Philaenarcys bilineata, commonly known as the prairie spittlebug, is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae. It is found in North America, with documented occurrences in Alberta, British Columbia, Missouri, New Brunswick, and the Northwest Territories. The species inhabits prairies and boreal forests, and is part of the true bug order Hemiptera. As a spittlebug, it produces the characteristic frothy 'spittle' as a nymph, which serves as protection and moisture retention.
Philaenarcys killa
Sand Plain Spittlebug
Philaenarcys killa, known as the Sand Plain Spittlebug, is a species of spittlebug in the family Aphrophoridae. It was described by Hamilton in 1979. The species belongs to the tribe Philaenini and is one of the documented members of the genus Philaenarcys. Records indicate presence in the north-central United States and adjacent Canada.
Philaenarcys spartina
Salt Marsh Spittlebug
Philaenarcys spartina is a spittlebug species in the family Aphrophoridae, first described by Hamilton in 1979. It is associated with salt marsh habitats, specifically with Spartina grasses, as indicated by its specific epithet. The species has been recorded in eastern Canada including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Québec. As a member of the spittlebug family, it likely produces characteristic frothy spittle masses as nymphs, though specific life history details remain poorly documented.
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.
Philaenus spumarius
Meadow Spittlebug, Meadow Froghopper
Philaenus spumarius is a small spittlebug (5–7 mm) in the family Aphrophoridae, native to the Palearctic and introduced to North America. The species exhibits extreme color polymorphism with approximately 20 known color varieties ranging from yellowish and brownish to black. Nymphs produce characteristic foam masses for protection, while adults are strong jumpers and capable fliers. It has become economically significant as the primary European vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterium causing Olive Quick Decline Syndrome and Pierce's disease in grapevines.
Philaronia abjecta
Philaronia abjecta is a spittlebug species in the family Aphrophoridae, first described by Uhler in 1876. It is distributed across parts of North America and has been recorded as far north as Alaska and Alberta. The species belongs to a genus of relatively small, inconspicuous spittlebugs.
Philaronia canadensis
Philaronia canadensis is a species of spittlebug (family Aphrophoridae) native to North America. The species was described by Walley in 1929. It is one of approximately 11 species in the genus Philaronia, which is part of the tribe Philaenini within the spittlebug family. The species is known from western North America, with records from British Columbia, California, and Idaho.
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 ignifera
Prosapia ignifera is a spittlebug species in the family Ischnorhinidae, described by Hamilton in 1977. It belongs to the genus Prosapia, which includes economically significant pasture pests. The species is part of a group of tropical spittlebugs that cause substantial damage to forage grasses and sugarcane. Unlike the congeneric Prosapia bicincta, which has been extensively documented as an invasive pest in Hawaiʻi since 2016, specific biological and ecological data for P. ignifera remain limited in published sources.
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.
Prosapia isobar
Prosapia isobar is a spittlebug species in the family Ischnorhinidae, described by Hamilton in 1977. It belongs to a genus containing several economically significant pasture pests, though specific information about this species is limited compared to its congener P. bicincta. The genus Prosapia is native to the Americas and includes species that feed on xylem sap of grasses and other plants.
Prosapia simulans
Prosapia simulans is a spittlebug species (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) native to Central America that was first detected in Colombia in 1999, where it has since become an economic pest of cultivated graminoids. The species has a hemimetabolous life cycle with five nymphal instars and exhibits a notably long life cycle of approximately 72 days compared to other spittlebug species in the region. Females preferentially oviposit on plant stems rather than soil, distinguishing it ecologically from congeners. Eggs can enter diapause, with field-collected eggs showing nearly 70% diapause incidence during dry season months. The species currently has a restricted distribution within Colombia's Cauca Valley but poses ongoing agricultural concern.
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.