Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus 1758)
Description & Identification
Adults are typically 5- 7mm long; females are slightly larger than males.
P. spumarius is extremely variable in colour and pattern, ranging from pale brown through to completely black, broadly
divisible between the predominantly pale forms and the
mostly black ’melanic’ ones (above and below the line, respectively, on the diagram below right). As with all
froghoppers, they have two stout spines on the outer edge of
the hind tibiae and several smaller spines at the tip. Nymphs
have no markings and range from uniform pale yellow when
first emerged to lime green in later stages. (Harkin & Stewart, 2019)
Philaenus can be distinguished from Neophilaenus species by
their more convex outline when viewed from above (as
opposed to the more parallel-sided Neophilaenus) and their
overall pattern of markings. They are much smaller than
Aphrophora species, although the patterning in the typical
(TYP) form of Philaenus can appear similar to A. alni. (Harkin & Stewart, 2019)
Biology & Ecology
Philaenus spumarius is known to feed on over 400 different
plant species. It can be found in most open habitats, including grasslands, gardens and open forests, but it favours herbaceous host plants rather than grasses or trees.
Females lay eggs singly or in groups in the autumn. On
emergence the following spring, nymphs begin producing
the characteristic spittle ‘nests’ which provide protection
against predators and desiccation. Spittle can be seen from
April to late June. The nymph moults five times within the
spittle before emerging as a free-living adult. Adults are
found normally between June and September, but sometimes as late as November.
As with all froghoppers, P. spumarius feeds on the liquid
contents of the xylem vessels of its host plant. As such, it is a
known vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa which has
caused the death of many olive trees in southern Europe,
although this disease has not been detected in the UK. (Harkin & Stewart, 2019)
Classification
Synonymy
Cicada spumarius Linnaeus, 1758
Ptyelus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Philaneus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
? pallidus Linnaeus, 1758
Philaenus spumarius pallidus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cicada leucocephala Linnaeus, 1758
Cicada lateralis Linnaeus, 1758
Cercopis lineata Fabricius, 1781
Cercopis fasciata Fabricius, 1787
Ptyelus spumarius fasciatus (Fabricius, 1787)
Philaenus spumarius marginella (Fabricius, 1794)
? marginella Fabricius, 1794
Aphrophora apicalis Germar, 1821
Ptyelus spumarius apicallis (Germar, 1821)
Philaenus spumarius ustulatus Puton, 1875
Ptyelus spumarius ustulatus (Puton, 1875)
Philaenus spumarius rufescens Melichar, 1896
Common Names (full list)
Source: National Checklist of all species occurring in Denmark
Source: Catalogue of Life
Source: Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
Source: TAXREF
Source: Checklist of Vermont Species
Source: Martha's Vineyard species checklist
Source: Catalogue of Life
Source: Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
Source: NCBI Taxonomy
Source: Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - Hawaii, United States (ver.2.0, 2022)
Source: Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - United States (Contiguous) (ver.2.0, 2022)
Source: Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - Alaska, United States (ver.2.0, 2022)
Source: Martha's Vineyard species checklist
Source: Catalogue of Life
Source: Checklist of Vermont Species
Source: TAXREF
Source: National Checklist of all species occurring in Denmark
Source: Catalogue of Life
Source: Taxon list of Auchenorrhyncha from Germany compiled in the context of the GBOL project
Source: Taxon list of animals with German names (worldwide) compiled at the SMNS
Additional Images
Images provided by GBIF data providers. We cannot verify that identifications are correct.
Worldwide Distribution
Philaenus spumarius is a common across Europe, Asia and North America. Specimens have also been recorded in New Zeland.
UK Status: Present
The Meadow Spittlebug or Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius) is an extremely common species with a widespread distribution across Britain and Ireland.
Vector Status
Economic Crops
As with all froghoppers, P. spumarius feeds on the liquid contents of the xylem vessels of its host plant. As such, it is a known vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa which has caused the death of many olive trees in southern Europe, although this disease has not been detected in the UK. (Harkin & Stewart, 2019)
Plant Diseases
.
Phytoplasmas
Mitrovic, M., Jovic, J., Cvrkovic, T., Krstic, O., Trkulja, N., Tosevski, I. 2012. Characterisation of a 16SrII phytoplasma strain associated with bushy stunt of hawkweed oxtongue (Picris hieracioides) in south-eastern Serbia and the role of the leafhopper Neoaliturus fenestratus (Deltocephalinae) as a natural vector. European Journal of Palnt Pathology, 134(3): 647-660
Carraro, L., Ferrini, F., Ermacora, P., Loi, N., Martini, M., Osler, R. 2004. Macropsis mendax as a vector of elm yellows phytoplasma of Ulmus species. Plant Pathology, 53: 90-95
Bressan, A., Larrue, J., Boudon-Padieu, E. 2006. Patterns of phytoplasma-infected and infective Scaphoideus titanus leafhoppers in vineyards with high incidence of Flavescence dorée. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 119: 61-69
Carraro, L., Ferrini, F., Martini, M., Ermacora, P., Loi, N. 2008. A serious epidemic of Stolbur on Celery. Journal of Plant Pathology, 90(1): 131-135
Avramov, Z., Ivanova, I., Laginova, M. 2011b. Screening for phytoplasma presence in leafhoppers and planthoppers collected in Bulgarian vineyards. Bulletin of Insectology, 64(Supplement): S115-S116
Sfalanga, A., Martini, M., Surico, G., Bertaccini, A. 2002. Involvement of phytoplasmas in a decline of Ulmus chenmoui in Central Italy. Forest Pathology, 32: 265-275
Riedle-Bauer, M., Tiefenbrunner, W., Otreba, J., Hanak, K., Schildberger, B., Regner, F. 2006. Epidemiological observations on Bois noir in Austrian vineyards. Mitteilungen Klosterrneuburg, 56: 166–170
* Citations of Phytoplasma occurrance in Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus 1758) have been exctracted from the database of Hemiptera-Phytoplasma-Plant (HPP) biological interactions worldwide (Valeria Trivellone. (2019). Hemiptera-Phytoplasma-Plant dataset (v1.2) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2532738).
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