Aphrophora alni

Alder spittlebug

Description

The body is 8-10 mm long, boat-shaped. The color is brown, with a dark and light pattern on the front wings. Distinctive light spots on their front wings are very characteristic. Nymphs are hidden in foam nests on host plants. Replacement is possible with other, less abundant species of the genus Aphrophora (A. salicina, A. pectoralis, A. major and A. corticea). However, none of them have significant light spots on the edge of the front wings. Some individuals of Philaenus spumarius may have a similar pattern, but they are much smaller. Alder spittle bug is a very abundant species from the lowlands to the mountains. We can find the adults in various habitats on alders and other shrubs and trees from May to October. They feed by sucking on plant juices from host trees. Females lay eggs on various hosta tree. Nymphs are hidden in foam, which they create from their own secretions. During the sucking of plant juices, the nymph produces a lot of liquid, which it mixes with the wax secretion and blows air into them. This creates a spit-like foam that protects the nymph from predators as well as from drying out.