Two-lined Spittlebug

Meet the Two-lined Spittlebug, a dapper little hopper that looks like it is wearing a pinstriped suit for a night out in the garden. While the adults are snappy dressers, their children are famous for hiding inside clusters of bubbles that look exactly like human saliva! Though they might look a bit strange, they are harmless jumpers simply looking for a sweet sip of plant sap.

🔍 How to Identify

• 🦇 The Color Scheme: Adults have a dark brown to charcoal-black body, highlighted by two vivid, horizontal orange or reddish bands crossing their wings.
• 🐸 Body Shape: They possess a stout, wedge-like body that is widest at the head, giving them a frog-like profile when viewed from above.
• 🧐 The "Spit" (Nymph Stage): If you see a clump of white, frothy foam on a grass stem, there is likely a bright yellow-green juvenile hiding inside it to stay moist and hidden from predators.

🌲 Habitat & Behavior

• 🥤 Liquid Diet: These insects use straw-like mouthparts to drink sap from grasses and ornamental plants. While a few won't hurt, a large gathering can cause grass tips to turn yellow or "wilt" slightly.
• 🚀 Olympic Jumpers: As members of the froghopper family, they have incredibly powerful hind legs. If you get too close, they can launch themselves several feet into the air, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
• 🏡 Lawn Lovers: They are most common in lush, moist turfgrass (like St. Augustine or Centipede grass) and are particularly fond of Holly bushes during the humid mid-to-late summer months.

⚠️ Safety & Toxicity

• 👐 Harmless to Humans: The Two-lined Spittlebug is completely safe for people and pets. They do not bite, sting, or carry diseases.
• 🌿 Plant Health: While not "toxic," a massive infestation can stress your lawn. If your grass feels "squishy" from the amount of foam, it is usually a sign that the lawn needs a closer mow to reduce the moisture they crave.

✨ Fun Fact

The "spit" that the young nymphs hide in isn't actually spit—it is essentially filtered plant sap that they pump out of their back ends and whip into a bubbly foam using their legs!