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Spittle Bug (Nymph)
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Ron Warner (tuslaw)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 232 W: 8 N: 598]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (1901) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2008-06-16 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Exposure: f/2.8, 1/50 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop |
| Date Submitted: 2008-06-17 19:46 |
| Viewed: 372 |
| Points: 6 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
As a boy I spent countless hours in the fields and woods around home. There were two things that I absolutely hated when walking the trails. The first was running into spider webs and getting the sticky silk-like strands on my face, neck, ears, arms etc...(you get the picture.)
The second thing was walking through heavy weeds and grasses and coming out with this wet slimy spit-like substance all over my hands, legs and shoes. If I would have wanted a bath, I could have thought of a better way of getting one without all the yuck and mess.
Spit Bugs (Frog Hooper)
There are 23,000 species of spittle bugs, but most people never see them because they hide in a mass of spit-like bubbles. This mass of bubbles is actually their home. They are protected from predators and insulated from heat and cold by this jelly like mass.
The bubbles also help protect the spittle bug from drying out and dying, by keeping it moist at all times.
By moving its body up and down like bellows, the insects secreat a goo like substance along with air out of its anus. This creates a spit like mass which becomes its home.
Adults lay their eggs in plants in late summer, where they remain dormant all winter long. The babies will either stay on this particular plant to live or find a new one to call home.
The young spittle bugs, know as nymphs, go through five stages before becoming adults. This cycle takes from 40 - 52 days to complete. They range in color from yellowish to greenish to brownish.
The adults have wings which allow them to fly. They have strong spines on their legs allowing them to jump extremely well.
I will post a second photo in the workshop giving a different view. |
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- Art_R
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 16 N: 476]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(1967) - [2008-06-17 21:56]
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Hi Ron , great macro , finally I get a view of the culprit that keeps spitting on my shins :-D
a really good view of the things unseen , thanks for sharing it
regards
Art
Hi Ron,
Very sharp and detailed photo of nymph. I can see the glitter of its "spit".
This species is new to me. TFS.
Ali
Hi Ron,
Detail of the bubbles and the spittle bug are really good. It looks like you could reach out and touch it.Wonderful lighting.Enjoy your day.
Cecile
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 38 W: 1 N: 66]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}