FROGHOPPER

also called Spittlebug, or Cuckoo Spit Insect, any of the approximately 2,000 species of small (rarely more than 1.5 cm [0.6 inch]) hopping insects of the family Cercopidae (order Homoptera). The whitish nymph secretes a fluid through the anus that is mixed with a secretion from the abdominal glands. Air bubbles are introduced through a special valve on the abdomen to create spittle, a frothy substance that protects the larva from enemies and desiccation. The meadow spittlebug (Philaenus leucophthalmus), froglike in appearance, has grayish-brown wings and is a powerful leaper; it is found in Europe and North America. Some African species occur in enormous numbers and secrete large amounts of spittle, which drips from tree branches like rain. The sugarcane froghopper (Tomaspis saccharina) is very destructive in Trinidad. Aphrophora species are serious pests of the willow and pine. One group of froghoppers secretes small calcareous tubes that resemble snail shells and were once classified as snails by zoologists.