AKA Froth Bug
Length 10 mm
Habitat
Frequents meadows and woodland margins. Female lays eggs mainly in willow twigsPhilaenus spumarius tends to be found on a wide range of low growing plants such as grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs from June to September. They are usually uniformly brown in colour but mottled versions are also to be found.
With something like ten different species of similar looking 'froghoppers' or 'spittle bugs' the amateur should be cautious of labelling them with specific scientific names (hence the question mark after the species name).
This is one of the bugs responsible for all that frothy 'cuckoo-spit' that gardeners find so objectionable. It is the nymphs that produce the 'froth' to protect themselves while they are in their very vulnerable, soft bodied and slow moving, juvenile state.
The adults are small, up to 6mm in length and rely on their ability to 'hop' (very effectively) from danger.
And their colloquial similarity to frogs comes from the flat frog-like head.
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