Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
13
14
13
Nymphs of willow froghopper (
Aphrophora salicina
).
14
Spittle of willow froghopper (
Aphrophora salicina
) on
Salix
.
15
16
15
Common froghopper (
Philaenus spumarius
).
16
Nymph of common froghopper (
Philaenus spumarius
).
LIFE HISTORY
The frog-like adults occur mainly from July onwards
and are often seen at rest on plants. They are rather
sluggish but jump violently into the air if disturbed.
Eggs are laid in the stems of host plants during
September, typically in batches of up to 30, and hatch in
the following May. Sedentary nymphs then feed on the
sap of host plants, injecting their needle-like mouthparts
into a shoot or leaf vein. Throughout their development,
they cover themselves with a protective mass of spittle-
like froth. They pass through five nymphal instars, and
reach the adult stage in the summer.
DAMAGE
Young shoots on susceptible nymph-infested plants may
become distorted and wilted; in some cases flowers
are malformed. Adults cause no obvious damage.
Ornamentals are disfigured by the presence of the
spittle, and this may reduce the marketability of
container-grown plants in nurseries.
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