Hoppers of North Carolina

Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers

Family (Alpha):

Philaenus spumarius - Meadow Spittlebug APHROPHORIDAE Members:			NC Records	Public View

synonym

description

A highly variable species, ranging in color from brown, green, yellow, pink, pale, black-and-white, mottled, etc. It may appear solid in coloration or have different patterns across its wings. For an example of some color varieties, see: Meadow Spittlebug Variation. Wings have a fine covering of hair that typically blends in with the wing color, and veins are not raised and dark as in Philaronia. Adult males are 5.2-6.4 mm long, females are 5.4-6.8 mm. Nymphs are also variable in color: the first instar is orange, instars 2 through 4 are yellow, and the last nymphal stage is pale green NCSU.

There are two distinct subspecies (of four total known) that have been recorded in the state recently: Philaenus spumarius typica, which is pale and mottled, and [possibly] P. s. quadrimaculatus, which is dark and mottled. These two subspecies, especially the latter one, maybe confused with Aphrophora quadrinotata; however, P. spumarius lacks the heavily pitted elytra found in A. quadrinotata.

distribution

Native to and widespread across the Palaerctic (Eurasia), it has spread to North America through range expansions where it is abundant throughout the country except in the arid Southwest. It was first recorded in North America in Newfoundland about 1000 years ago. Most common in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. BG

abundance

Common and widespread across much of the state, with many records from the mountains and Piedmont. Seemingly absent from much of the coastal plain, but this could be due to a lack of collecting or searching in those areas.

seasonal_occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

habitat

Found in herbaceous, vegetated areas and field-type habitat, but can also be found near or even within forested areas.

plant associates

This species infests over 400 different plants, including alfalfa, red clover, wheat, oats, corn, and strawberries. BG. Has also been found on Milkweed. This species has also been found on Ambrosia, Solidago, Betula, Medicago sativa, Trifolium, Zea mays, and Fragaria ananassa (DL).

behavior

Eggs hatch in North Carolina in late March; the nymphs then seek sheltered, humid parts of plants. When they begin feeding, nymphs exude a frothy spittle mass that protects them from natural enemies and desiccation. The nymphs will feed for a month or longer and then, depending on temperature, develop into adults in late May or June. As the foliage adults are feeding on dries out, they migrate to new host plants. In late August or early September, females begin to deposit eggs. NCSU

comments

A major agricultural pest species, it causes severe damage to a variety of plants. Affected plants wilt and become stunted. Eggs are white, oblong, and about 1mm in length. They become light brown before nymphs hatch. NCSU

status

[Native:] [Introduced:] [Extirpated:]

list_type

[Official:] [Provisional:]

adult_id

Unmistakable and widely known Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens
Identifiable from photos showing undersides, or other specialized views [e.g., legs, face]
Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis NULL

nymph_id

Unmistakable and widely known Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants
Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis
Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood NULL

G_rank

S_rank

rank_comments

tribe

subgenus

Species Photo Gallery for Philaenus spumarius Meadow Spittlebug
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Nymph Spotted on leaf ( Milkweed ? )	Photo by: Paul Scharf Ashe Co. Comment: Spotted on Milkweed
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: spittle found in a marshy/very vegetated section of Falls Lake, near a creek	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Ashe Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; one of many varieties
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Surry Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat near forest edge & forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Surry Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat near forest edge & forest
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: NYMPH, Found in Spittle	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: grassy and brushy vegetation surrounded by forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: grassy and brushy vegetation surrounded by forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: grassy and brushy vegetation surrounded by forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: grassy and brushy vegetation surrounded by forest	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: grassy and brushy vegetation surrounded by forest
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Mitchell Co. Comment: grassy, brushy vegetation in the open on the top of the mountain; the bald	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Caldwell Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat along roadside
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Avery Co. Comment: grassy, brushy habitat and forest edge/interior	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Grassy, open area.
	Photo by: Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment:	Photo by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Avery Co. Comment:
	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Avery Co. Comment:	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Avery Co. Comment:
	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Avery Co. Comment: unid_treehopper - unid_leafhopper - unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: unid_spittlebug	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Watauga Co. Comment: Grassy, weedy field in wooded neighborhood at high elevation.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Watauga Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Watauga Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal Haywood Co. Comment:	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal Henderson Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal Henderson Co. Comment:	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Using beat sheet
	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Using beat sheet	Photo by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Madison Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Madison Co. Comment:	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Jumped onto beat sheet tossed on ground in a grassy trail in a river floodplain.
	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Jumped onto beat sheet tossed on ground in a grassy trail in a river floodplain.	Photo by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Henderson Co. Comment: Cold but mostly sunny, temp about 45.

Species Photo Gallery for Philaenus spumarius Meadow Spittlebug