Meadow Froghopper

The Meadow Froghopper is the most common and varied spittlebug in Britain. It shows a wide range of colours, from pale tan to mottled brown and almost black. Adults are 5 to 7 millimetres long and have strong back legs that allow them to jump well. This species is different from other Philaenus bugs because it is found in more places and has more colour variations. It lives all over the British Isles in grasslands, meadows, gardens, and the edges of woodlands. It can be found from sea level up to higher ground. Adults are active from June to October and feed on many types of plants and grasses by sucking the water and nutrients from the plant’s sap. The young froghoppers, called nymphs, create white foam masses on plant stems from April onwards. This foam, often called cuckoo spit, is the best way to tell if the Meadow Froghopper is nearby.