#two-lined spittlebug

[dailybugfacts]

I just found out I got turned down for my dream job so im feeling pretty down. Can I get a fact about my favorite little weird guy the spittle bug.

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Two-Lined Spittlebug (Prosapia Bicincta) is a species of bug found in the eastern US? Their two horizontal orange lines give them the first part of their name and the second part of their name comes from the foam they produce from their spittle combined with the juices of their host plant. These bugs have infested much of Hawai'i, especially in the last decade, and has caused serious damage to the grasslands.

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Photo by Jan Johnson

[violetcatt]

Two-lined Spittlebug

I did not know until today what adult spittle bugs looked like.  Now that I think about it, I still don’t know what the nymphs look like as they’re always encased in spittle and I don’t want to disturb them.  Anyhow, I love its stubby antennae.  

[cool-critters]

Two-lined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta)

The two-lined spittlebug is a species of insect in the family Cercopidae. It is found in North America. Adults are black with two lines crossing the wings, ranging from red to orange in colour. They reach a length of 8–10 mm. Nymphs feed on various grasses (including centipedegrass, bermudagrass and corn) from within foam (consisting of their own spittle) produced from juices of their host plant. Adults feed on hollies on the underside of the leaves.

photo credits: Kaldari

[that-crazy-scorpio-man]

A cute little two-lined spittlebug browsing the vegetable section at Lowe’s.  Wonder what he decided on at the end of the day?

[that-crazy-scorpio-man]

Another spittlebug.

[deathtek]

9/26/19

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Two-lined Spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta)

...a species of froghopper that is found throughout North America. Like all spittlebugs nymphs of this species will encase themselves in a 'spittle mass' to keep themselves from drying out. In this stage the nymph will feed on the host plant (which is usually centipede or bermudagrass) and is largely considered a pest. Adult two-lined spittlebugs will feed on hollies from the underside of leaves, and are mainly active during the summer.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Arthropoda-Insecta-Hemiptera-Auchenorrhyncha-Cicadoidea-Cercopidae-Prosapia-P.bicincta

Images: Kaldari and Josh Hillman