Thanks to Carlos Grassini who identified some of the images on this page.
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
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CERCOPIDAE: FROGHOPPERS
Also known as Spittle Bugs on account of the spit-like substance (sometimes colloquialy termed "cuckoo spit") in which the nymphs develop. This "spittle" is actually the excrement produced by the nymph from feeding on watery xylem sap and they actively blow it up into a foamy mass that helps to protect the vulnerable, soft-bodied inhabitant. The family occurs worldwide and because of their squat shape and incredible jumping ability they are commonly known as froghoppers. Though they can often resemble the Cicadellidae they are distinguished by the fact that their tarsi has a rounded, not angular cross-section. They also have 1 or 2 stout spines on the tibia and a ring of spines at the distal end (the Cicadellidae having one or more rows of spines). Like other members of the Suborder they are sap suckers and whilst some species are specific to their host plants, others a more widely polyphagous.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
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FIGURE 1 - Unidentified sp, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith December 2009).
FIGURE 2 - Unidentified sp, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith January 2010).
FIGURE 3 - Notozulia entrerriana, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith February 2010).
FIGURE 4 - Unidentified sp, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith March 2010).
FIGURE 5 - Unidentified sp, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith May 2011).