Meadow Spittlebug

Appearance

The species reaches a body length of 5–7 millimetres. Most females are slightly larger than males. In these polymorphic insects, the coloration of the body is very variable. Usually, they are yellowish, brownish, or black, with brighter patches on a dark background, but also with dark markings on a lighter background.

Naming

The genus name "Philaenus" comes from the Greek "philein", while the species name "spumarius" is from the Latin "spuma", referring to the foam nests; the binomial "Philaenus spumarius" can be translated as "foam lover."

Distribution

"Philaenus spumarius" is quite common and widespread. The species' original distribution was restricted to the Palearctic realm. They are present in most of Europe, in North Africa, in part of Russia, in Afghanistan, and in Japan. They have also been introduced in North America.

This is a very eurytopic species, meaning that it can tolerate a wide range of environmental factors and exist in many different habitats. It lives in almost all open land habitats and in open forests. It is absent only in very wet and very dry habitats.

Behavior

The seasonal nature, the phenology, of the species' life cycle varies because of the wide range of climatic conditions it can tolerate, but remains similar. In a temperate climate, the females lay eggs at the end of the summer. The eggs are laid singly or in groups on the food plants of the larvae. Egg-laying is triggered by a single female, which can produce up to 350–400 eggs. In unfavorable climatic periods, froghoppers can survive in the form of eggs.

Eggs are white with an orange spot; this spot becomes darker and larger if the egg is fertilised, approximately 1mm long and 0.3mm wide.
The larvae, also called nymphs, hatch after about 20 days and develop through five stages, known as instars.

The larvae are well known for the self-generated foam nests which can be observed during spring in meadows. The larvae in the foam nests are largely protected from predators and also get the necessary moisture for the appropriate development and temperature, so their mortality remains low even in bad weather. The larval stage lasts about 50 days. The adults leave the foam nest only when it is completely dried. This takes about ten days. The females mate soon after.

Froghoppers are polyphagous, their host plant specificity is low, so that they can feed on a variety of plants, mainly grasses, reed plants, herbs and sometimes trees. They have been identified on over 170 host plants.