Spittlebugs: are they pests?

Рет қаралды 10,960

Жыл бұрын

Spittlebugs are fascinating native insects which protect themselves with a foamy fluid similar to spittle - hence the common name. The adult form of spittlebugs are usually known as froghoppers, but it is the nymphs - the juveniles - which make the foamy liquid. In some countries this foam is called 'cuckoo spit' but not here in Australia.
How do spittlebugs make this foam? Why do they make this foam? Are they pests? Should I be worried if I find them in my garden? All these questions and more are answered in this video! I hope you enjoy the video. Please let me know in the comments.
Phloem and xylem diagram courtesy Nefronus - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license: tinyurl.com/4nx9rfjy
MY BOOKS:
"Garden Pests, Diseases & Good Bugs"
▶ bit.ly/3wELyCy
▶ bit.ly/2TnuBrM
▶ bit.ly/2DO0cNR
"Backyard Insects"
▶ bit.ly/3n8ha0n
▶ amzn.to/30iF8wD
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram
▶ / denis_crawford
Facebook
▶ / denis.j.crawford
VISIT MY BLOG:
▶www.oneminutebugs.com.au

Пікірлер: 58

@rl2117 2 ай бұрын

blah blah blah how do you get rid of them ???

@oneminutebugs 2 ай бұрын

This is the wrong channel for you then mate!

@jenniferfreeman724 Жыл бұрын

I’ve just discovered your series and I love your clear and engaging style. I learnt more about spittlebugs in 5 minutes than I thought possible! What a fascinating insect!

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

What a lovely comment! Thank you.

@TheReaverOfDarkness 8 ай бұрын

Trevor is not a Jurassic animal, he is a late Cretaceous animal.

@oneminutebugs 8 ай бұрын

Yes you are absolutely correct. It was a bit of a weak link but just trying to illustrate how long some insects have been on Earth. Thanks for commenting!

@BonnieBraeNZ Жыл бұрын

As usual, brilliant, Denis. Very educational and fun to watch.

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jacqui. I had fun with this one!

@funkybongo00 Жыл бұрын

Great video , thanks !

@mariofilippi3539 2 ай бұрын

Just found these in my yard and had to know more. Thanks to you I've been thoroughly enlightened.

@oneminutebugs 2 ай бұрын

Thank you Mario!

@Warriorking.1963 7 ай бұрын

In Northern Ireland, we call the foam "Cuckoo Spit". I've never heard of the term "Spittlebug" before, at least where I live, we just say Froghopper. Great video, I think Trevor's gonna be a star!

@oneminutebugs 7 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for commenting. Very interesting that you use the term froghopper rather than spittlebug. BTW Trevor is already a star!! 😂🤣

@gellertshorty Ай бұрын

Just found a ton in my garden on my perennials! So interesting!

@oneminutebugs Ай бұрын

Very cool insects! Thanks for commenting. 🙂

@adriennegrant01 Жыл бұрын

Great video!!

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@mariakasstan Ай бұрын

cute little buggers.

@oneminutebugs Ай бұрын

Thanks!

@beccagee769 3 сағат бұрын

ONE minute bugs?

@fatimaariza1596 10 ай бұрын

Can the stem, holding the spittlebug, be cut off and thrown away to arrest the spread to other parts? I think some of my Rosemary stems have it, according to my insect identifier. I'm in Southern California. Thank you

@oneminutebugs 10 ай бұрын

Hello Fatima from Southern California! The disease (Xylella fastidiosa) that spittle bugs spread in your area is known to affect rosemary. Pruning the spittle bugs off will help. Keep an eye out for them next year too. We don't have to worry about spittle bugs here in Australia, because the disease they spread doesn't occur here 🙂 Hope this helps!

@RookwingsKirk 8 ай бұрын

When I encountered cuckoo spit [as we call them in england] it was love at first sight. I was enchanted by the fact that such delicate little cute beings could survive at all, and when I watched them develop into the strong adults that could spring away in an instant I was a committed frog-hopper admirer. I don't care what they do to plants, they definitely aren't numerous enough here to make a dent.

@oneminutebugs 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for your lovely comment. I wish more people thought like you! 🙂

@RookwingsKirk 8 ай бұрын

@@oneminutebugs maybe one day all humans will learn that we live on the surface of an actual planet. For example, House spiders - so many people scared of them [and not flies], while they live in natural dust filters and who is scared of free pest control?

@oneminutebugs 8 ай бұрын

@@RookwingsKirk Well said!

@Dodsodalo Жыл бұрын

Thanks, i was clearing growth on the property and was worried about some wierd fungus causing plant damage, but thankfully, its just bugs! If it was a fungus id be far more worried, but nope, just nymphs

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Great to hear! Thanks for commenting.

@Artcraftinspiration Жыл бұрын

I came here as I had foam like this on my lavender. Google suggested I come to this video I'm in England. I'm leaving well alone. Wondering how long before an adult appears?

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Thanks for commenting! Yes, spittlebugs are not a problem in England. The RHS site suggests that adults may appear mid-late summer. www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/cuckoo-spit-spittlebugs

@Artcraftinspiration Жыл бұрын

@@oneminutebugs Thank you. So I best leave it alone until then..no spraying water?

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

@@Artcraftinspiration Yes, it's safe to leave them. They are just part of garden life. 🙂

@andnowi Ай бұрын

You would have fun with Chironomus. I cultivate the larvae (bloodworms) for fish food. Sometimes I see the pupa at the surface and a race ensues to dunk it before the adult slithers out and flies off. Blink and you've lost.

@oneminutebugs Ай бұрын

Sounds very similar to the adult spittlebug incident! Thanks very much for commenting. 🙂

@godrilla5549 6 ай бұрын

The more you look into bugs, the cooler you realize they.

@oneminutebugs 6 ай бұрын

They are very cool indeed. 🙂

@dostagirl9551 7 ай бұрын

When I was a kid, and before the advent of the internet, my friends and I use to think these little bubble nests were created by snakes. Don’t judge too harshly. 😂 We were just a bunch of wildlings traipsing about blackberry brambles and picking berries. I don’t even know if it was something an adult had told one of us or if our fear of rattlers just manifested as a colorful anecdote. Glad to finally learn what these are. I figured it was a bug but never knew what kind.

@oneminutebugs 7 ай бұрын

They are also called 'cuckoo-spit' but have nothing to do with birds! I'm happy that I could show you what they really are! 🙂

@juneausten7733 Жыл бұрын

Wow ! Those piddle bugs are interesting. I wonder what their purpose in nature is?

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Good question! Just part of the web of life I guess.

@MrGroetale Жыл бұрын

Have them all over strawberry plants in the spring.

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Thanks for commenting. Not seen them on strawberries here. Which state are you in, if you don't mind me asking?

@MrGroetale Жыл бұрын

@@oneminutebugs South of Sweden close to Denmark.

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

@@MrGroetale Thanks for letting me know. Most interesting. I will look at some literature.

@Lalito401 10 ай бұрын

We knew that was a snake's saliva and always ran for our lives as soon as we see it.Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬

@oneminutebugs 10 ай бұрын

Great story. Thank you! 🇦🇺

@missha1ry1 Жыл бұрын

Trevor sounded a bit grumpy! 😊

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Great sound isn't it!

@missha1ry1 Жыл бұрын

@@oneminutebugs Yes, it was well done....and believable! 👍

@russellbanfield1704 Жыл бұрын

Goodluck getting that adult image.

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

I'm gonna need it!

@boballanson8671 Жыл бұрын

I can't wait to see a bit of spit on a plant and try to see a spittle bug.

@oneminutebugs Жыл бұрын

Very interesting insects! Thanks for commenting Bob.

@terrapinflyer273 Жыл бұрын

Some carry a bacteria that apparently caused widespread death of olive plants in Italy. Around 10,000 hectares within 7 years time. And the bacteria can spread to other plant varieties in the area. I found some in my mom's back yard today and now wish I hadn't. Hopefully they aren't the bacteria spreading sort...

@Ziflinz Ай бұрын

I'm guessing Hawaiian ranchers would have a very different opinion to your spittlebug question: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o5dmoMmUtrOUgYU.html

@oneminutebugs Ай бұрын

Yes, that's why I said in the video "not a problem in Australia (yet!) but they can be pests in other countries". Thanks very much for sharing the video link. It's a really great video - lays out the problem and the solutions.