True Spittlebugs

True spittlebugs are small, sturdy froghoppers that can be recognised by the two strong spines on the back part of their hind legs. Adults are usually brown or mottled in colour, measuring between 5 and 10 millimetres long, with a compact, rounded shape. They are best known for the frothy "cuckoo spit" produced by their young, although this foamy covering is found in related groups as well. These insects are found across the Palearctic region, including throughout the British Isles. They live in grasslands, meadows, heathlands, and the edges of woodlands where their food plants are found. Adults are powerful jumpers and can fly well, but they usually stay close to plants. Both the young and adults feed by piercing plant tissues to drink the sap, mainly from herbaceous plants and grasses.