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Common Spittle Bug

Philagra parva

Photo by Leuba Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

This 8 mm long spittle bug had mottled brown wings, brown eyes and the front of its head drawn out to a curved pointy "horn".

Habitat:

Spotted on a Cassinia bush in a nature reserve

Notes:

The nymphs of these insects live in mounds of spittle made by them as protection against predation and dehydration- hence the name spittle bug.

Family Aphrophoridae

Reference Links:

Spittlebug - Philagra parva, Aphrophoridae

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Leuba Ridgway
Thanks Sergio ! always wanted to find one of these - I love his long upturned "nose" too....
Sergio Monteiro
Very interesting, I never saw one with that "horn". I thought it to be a treehopper, at first. Congrats, it is a very nice series.
Leuba Ridgway
Martin, I saw this spittle bug on Acacia once before but was so disappointed that I could not take photograph the little thing so, you can imagine how excited I was when I saw him. He was probably lost on Cassinia and maybe that's why he was so still !! I think I've got some galls on Cassinia which I should post.
MartinL
Well done. I never find anything on Cassinia. This one is usually on acacia. I saw a different spittle bug on Ghania in that location. I'll load it next.

Spotted for Missions

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The Hoppers

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Photographed
PublishedOctober 11, 2013

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