Spittlebugs Biology, Ecology, and Economic Impact

About this book

Spittlebugs is a comprehensive introduction to an economically important but relatively little-known group of insects of the superfamily Cercopoidea in the order Hemiptera. Spittlebugs are found across all continents except Antarctica. Although harmless to a majority of their host plants, several species have become significant pests of sugarcane and pasture grasses in Latin America, and others carry a disease deadly to olive trees in Italy, leading to increasing interest in understanding these fascinating organisms and their unique biological and ecological traits.

There are approximately 2,500 known species of spittlebugs, so named for the protective "spittles" made by spittlebug nymphs. Living on leaves, stems, or roots, these immature insects suck and excrete plant sap that they then fill with tiny bubbles to create a foamy goo. Nymphs and adults excrete hundreds of times their body weight of spittle each day, but this isn't their only talent. They're incredible jumpers relative to their size, and some species excrete a smelly liquid when attacked. They also exhibit aposematism, or warning colouration – a trait generously illustrated in a sixteen-page colour gallery.

With its rich mix of detailed biology and natural history, Spittlebugs is a valuable resource for anyone looking to know more about these unique bugs and their widespread influences.

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Biography

Vinton Thompson has a PhD from the University of Chicago and has held academic and administrative positions at Roosevelt University, Kean University, and Metropolitan College of New York. He is now affiliated with the American Museum of Natural History.