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Froghoppers – The Spittlebug Nymph

on 29th February 2016

Froghoppers/spittlebug nymph [AmarSingh] 1

“I have been examining all the tiny insects in our garden and came across this 4-5 mm ‘collection of bubbles’ on 23rd January 2016 (above).

Froghoppers/spittlebug nymph [AmarSingh] 2

“I initially thought these were some eggs laid by a frog or other creature. But if you look very carefully at the image you will notice a slime trail on the bottom left. As I watched the ‘eggs’ began to move and I recognised it was the nymph of some sort of ‘planthopper’; having seen a number of such creatures. What was fascinating, and beautiful, was that the nymph was covered in numerous bubbles (above, below).

Froghoppers/spittlebug nymph [AmarSingh] 3

“Identification of the general group was then easy and they are Spittlebugs or Froghopper nymphs from the superfamily Cercopoidea.

“The Spittlebug nymph produces these bubbles or ‘spittle’ from the anus. One informative site states ‘The specialised Malpighian tubules of immature froghoppers synthesize products that make the filtered sap viscous. Nymphs use the tip of the abdominal breathing tube to introduce bubbles of air into these excreta to form spittle’ – HERE. If you return to the first image (top) you will now be able to appreciate that what we are seeing is the anal opening and bubbles being formed.

“A number of reasons have been offered for why nymphs encase themselves in these plant-sap-spittle-bubbles. These include for moisture, thermal regulation and most likely for protection – concealment or evasion from predators HERE.

Froghoppers/spittlebug nymph [AmarSingh] 4

“I wanted a few more images but the nymph had gone under a leaf of my ground cover the Spanish Shawl (Heterocentron elegans). I plucked the leaf to turn it over and was surprised that the response of the nymph was to shed most of the bubbles. I suspect this was a response to a perceived threat. I then watched as, in the space of 3 minutes, it ‘re-built’ its bubble protection (above for composite image).

“Looking forward to finding more of these fascinating creatures in our garden.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
24th January 2016

References/Useful Information:
1.
Wikipedia on Froghoppers HERE.
2. DrMetcalf on Spittlebugs HERE.
3. AskNature. A non-toxic foam secretion prevents predation: pine spittlebug HERE.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

3 Responses

  1. This nymph is consistent in appearance – the cloak of bubbles – and geography with the species Ptyelinellis praefractus. However, without an associate adult that is just a guess.

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