Nymphs range in body length from 2.0 mm (first instar) to 8.0 mm (fifth instar). Nymphs have bright scarlet abdomens, a striking and distinct characteristic of the first four instars which contrasts with the head, thoracic tergites and portions of the leg segments, all of which are blackish. The abdomen of the first instar is entirely crimson, with gray-black pigment confined to the caudal abdominal segment/tergite. Instars two through four have increasingly darkened (black) pleurites on the scarlet abdomen. The median line on the head and thorax is a light brown color, and the eyes are reddish. The fifth instar begins with a pale red abdomen and tan thorax, head and legs before becoming a uniform brown and then deep mahogany as it ages, looking very different from the previous four instars. (Wilson)

Young nymphs feed on a variety of herbaceous plant species of the forest floor such as brambles (raspberry and blackberry), orange hawkweed, everlasting, aster, goldenrod, sheep sorrel, old-field cinquefoil, spotted knapweed, meadowsweet, and many others. Older , fifth-instar nymphs feed on sweetfern and willow sprouts, both key hosts. Hundreds of plant species likely are alternate hosts for nymphs. (Wilson), (Wilson, 1987) Recently, nymphs were detected in state feeding on clover; white clover (Trifolium repens) is a minor host plant for this species (Wilson et al., 1977).

Species Photo Gallery for Aphrophora saratogensis Saratoga Spittlebug