spittlebug

spittlebug
/spit"l bug'/, n.
the nymph of the froghopper, which surrounds itself with a frothy mass.
[1880-85, Amer.; SPITTLE + BUG1]

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Any of some 2,000 species of hopping insects (family Cercopidae, order Homoptera) with whitish nymphs that use a special abdominal valve to aerate an anal fluid secretion.

The resulting frothy spittle protects the nymphs from enemies and desiccation. Adults are less than 0.6 in. (1.5 cm) long. The meadow spittlebug (Philaenus leucophthalmus), of Europe and North America, resembles a frog and is a powerful leaper. It feeds extensively on clover and alfalfa, causing severe stunting that can result in the loss of up to 50% of a crop. Some African species occur in such enormous numbers that their spittle drips from tree branches like rain.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • spittlebug — ☆ spittlebug [spit′ lbug΄ ] n. any of a family (Cercopidae) of small, leaping homopteran insects whose nymphs produce white frothy masses on plants …   English World dictionary

  • spittlebug — noun small leaping herbivorous insect that lives in a mass of protective froth which it and its larvae secrete • Syn: ↑spittle insect • Hypernyms: ↑homopterous insect, ↑homopteran • Hyponyms: ↑froghopper, ↑meadow spittlebug, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • spittlebug — noun Date: 1882 any of a family (Cercopidae) of leaping homopterous insects whose nymphal larvae produce a frothy secretion called also froghopper …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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

  • spittlebug — noun another term for froghopper …   English new terms dictionary

  • spittlebug — spit•tle•bug [[t]ˈspɪt lˌbʌg[/t]] n. ent the nymph of the froghopper, which surrounds itself with a frothy mass • Etymology: 1880–85, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • meadow spittlebug — noun Date: 1942 a widely distributed spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius) that does severe damage especially to grasses …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • meadow spittlebug — noun North American insect that severely damages grasses • Syn: ↑Philaenus spumarius • Hypernyms: ↑spittle insect, ↑spittlebug • Member Holonyms: ↑Philaenus, ↑genus Philaenus * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • pine spittlebug — noun North American insect that attacks pines • Hypernyms: ↑spittle insect, ↑spittlebug • Member Holonyms: ↑Aphrophora, ↑genus Aphrophora * * * noun : a cercopid bug of the genus Aphrophora that attacks pines in m …   Useful english dictionary

  • Saratoga spittlebug — noun feeds on pines in northern United States • Syn: ↑Aphrophora saratogensis • Hypernyms: ↑spittle insect, ↑spittlebug • Member Holonyms: ↑Aphrophora, ↑genus Aphrophora * * * …   Useful english dictionary

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