Aphrophoridae

Aphrophoridae is a family of sap-feeding insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly called froghoppers or spittlebugs. Many species have nymphs that produce protective foam around themselves.

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Hemiptera: An order of insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, including true bugs, aphids, cicadas, and planthoppers. Aphrophoridae belongs to this order of insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Spittlebug foam: A frothy secretion produced by many spittlebug nymphs around their bodies. The foam is the family’s distinctive nymphal shelter.
Philaenus spumarius: A widespread spittlebug species found on many herbaceous plants and shrubs. This species is a major vector of the plant pathogen associated with olive quick decline.
Aphrophora alni: A large spittlebug species associated especially with alder and other woody plants. Its nymphs form foam on branches, showing that shelters are not limited to herbaceous hosts.
Cercopidae: A family of froghoppers whose nymphs also produce protective foam. Cercopidae is a close relative often confused with Aphrophoridae.
Auchenorrhyncha: A hemipteran grouping that includes cicadas, leafhoppers, planthoppers, and spittlebugs. This grouping places froghoppers among the jumping, mostly plant-feeding hemipterans.
Xylem sap feeding: Feeding on the dilute fluid transported through plant xylem vessels. Aphrophorids extract large volumes of this fluid to obtain nutrients.
Xylella fastidiosa: A bacterial plant pathogen that colonizes xylem and causes diseases in many crops and trees. Some aphrophorids transmit this bacterium while feeding on infected plants.
Neophilaenus lineatus: A spittlebug species commonly associated with grasses and other low vegetation. It demonstrates the family’s presence in grassland habitats.
Cicadellidae: A large family of sap-feeding insects commonly called leafhoppers. Leafhoppers are close relatives but generally lack the conspicuous foam shelters of aphrophorid nymphs.