froghopper

froghopper
/frog"hop'euhr, frawg"-/, n.
any of numerous leaping, homopterous insects of the family Cercopidae, which in the immature stages live in a spittlelike secretion on plants. Also called spittle insect, spittlebug.
[1705-15; FROG1 + HOPPER]

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insect
also called  Spittlebug,  or  Cuckoo Spit Insect,  

      any of approximately 2,000 species of small (less than 1.5 cm [0.6 inch] long), hopping insects (order Homoptera), worldwide in distribution, that produce a frothy substance known as spittle. The whitish nymph secretes a fluid through the anus that is mixed with a secretion from the abdominal glands. Air bubbles are introduced through a special valve on the abdomen to create spittle that protects the larva from enemies and desiccation.

      The meadow spittlebug (Philaenus leucophthalmus) is froglike in appearance, has grayish-brown wings and is a powerful leaper. It is found in Europe and North America. Some African species occur in enormous numbers and secrete large amounts of spittle, which drips from tree branches like rain. The sugarcane froghopper (Tomaspis saccharina) is very destructive in Trinidad. Aphrophora species are serious pests of willow and pine. One group of froghoppers secretes small calcareous tubes that resemble snail shells and were once classified as snails by zoologists.

      The two-lined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta) is one of the most common species in eastern North America. Adults are dark brown with two red-orange stripes and feed on grasses, weeds, and holly. Nymphs are yellow and are often found on grasses in late spring.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
, , , (Aphrophora spumaria)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Froghopper — Prosapia bicincta Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia …   Wikipedia

  • froghopper — [frôg′häp΄ər] n. SPITTLEBUG …   English World dictionary

  • froghopper — noun Date: 1711 spittlebug …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • froghopper — noun Any of various small insects of the family Cercopidae that feed on plant sap and whose larvae produce cuckoo spit. Syn: spittlebug, spitbug …   Wiktionary

  • froghopper — leaping and spitting insect Unusual Animals …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • froghopper — noun a jumping, plant sucking bug, the larva of which produces cuckoo spit. [Family Cercopidae: many species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • froghopper — n. Frog fly, froth fly, froth insect, froth worm (Aphrophora spumaria) …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • froghopper — frog•hop•per [[t]ˈfrɒgˌhɒp ər, ˈfrɔg [/t]] n. ent any of several leaping homopterous insects of the family Cercopidae, which as a larva is surrounded by a frothy mass • Etymology: 1705–15 …   From formal English to slang

  • froghopper — /ˈfrɒghɒpə/ (say froghopuh) noun any of various small, leaping, homopterous insects, family Cercopidae, whose young live in a spittle like secretion on plants; spittle insect; cuckoo spit …  

  • froghopper — n. any jumping insect of the family Cercopidae, sucking sap and as larvae producing a protective mass of froth (see cuckoo spit) …   Useful english dictionary

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