PEST
 
   NAME
     Spittle Bugs, Cuckoo      Various Species
 
   ORDER
     Hemiptera

Description of the Pest
Generally Cuckoo spit bugs are small beetle-like or cicada shaped insects up to 10mm long and have soft greyish bodies. They produce a frothy secretion that covers the young for protection and stops them from drying out. Both adult and nymph have piercing sucking mouth parts. The adults are capable of jumping when disturbed and are commonly known as ‘froghoppers’.

Common Cuckoo Spit (Philagra parva) is brown and small up to 4mm long with a pointed head. The soft nymphs are brown and produce white froth.

Cuckoo Spit (Bathylus albicinctus) are a small brown beetle-like insect up to 5mm long and has larvae that cover themselves in white froth.

Appearance and Distribution of the Pest
They are found during the warmer months in temperate climates and throughout the year in sub-tropical to tropical regions. They spread by flying.

Life Cycle
These insects have a Hemimetabolous life cycle, ie. When the immature nymphs resemble the adults.

Damage Caused
The insects feed off the plant and are found in the leaf axils, normally not affecting the plant. 

Susceptible Plants
There is a wide range of plant attacked by this insect including Casuarina, Acacia, Grevillea and Baeckea species.

Cultural Control
The insects may be hosed off but generally control is not required.

Biological Control
Birds and other predators keep the numbers down.

Chemical Control
Not normally necessary.