Spittlebug

Pest Busterzz Home Icon

Pest Library

Spittlebug

Spittlebug
Schedule Service

Spittlebug Quick Facts

Size

Adults measure about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long.

Color

Dark brown to black with red eyes and legs and two distinctive orange-red lines across the wings; nymphs are creamy yellow or white with a brown head.

How to Identify

Adults resemble small hoppers with two bright orange stripes; immature stages hide inside white, frothy “spittle” masses near the base of grass.

Active Season

Activity typically rises in late spring through summer and early fall, often peaking around June and again in August–September when humidity and rainfall are high.

Indoor or Outdoor

Primarily outdoor; most often noticed in lawns, turf, and ornamental plantings.

Day or Night

Adults are usually most active in the early morning and tend to rest near the soil surface during the heat of the day.

Diet

Plant juices from turfgrasses (especially centipedegrass) and certain ornamentals such as hollies.

About Spittlebugs

Spittlebugs are small plant-feeding insects in the froghopper family. The species most often encountered around Florida properties is the two-lined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta. Adults are dark with two conspicuous orange-red cross-lines on the wings, while the immature stages conceal themselves inside distinctive white frothy masses. These insects occur throughout Florida, including South Florida landscapes, though populations are often heavier farther north in the state. Homeowners and property managers usually notice them when frothy masses appear low in the turf or when adult insects hop short distances as the lawn is walked or mowed. The main concern is the potential for cosmetic damage to lawns and certain ornamental plants rather than any risk to people or structures.

Where Are Spittlebugs Commonly Found?

Spittlebugs live almost entirely outdoors in lawns, pastures, and landscaped areas. Nymphs develop inside their protective spittle masses at the base of grass plants, in the thatch layer, behind leaf sheaths, or in hollow grass stems. Adults feed higher on the blades and also move onto woody ornamentals, particularly hollies.

Thick thatch, high humidity, and consistently moist conditions favor development. In South Florida yards and commercial properties, dense turf, over-irrigated zones, shaded grass areas, and heavy ornamental plantings can support populations. They do not typically establish inside buildings.

Spittlebug Behavior and Feeding

Both nymphs and adults feed by inserting piercing-sucking mouthparts into plant tissue and withdrawing juices. Adults inject salivary substances that can produce visible streaking on grass blades. Nymphs remain largely stationary within their frothy shelters, while adults are capable of quick, short hops when disturbed.

Females lay eggs at the base of grass, in thatch, or behind leaf sheaths. Two generations (occasionally a third under favorable conditions) occur in Florida each year. Adults are most noticeable in the cooler early-morning hours and retreat toward the soil surface as temperatures rise. High humidity and ample spring and summer rainfall encourage larger numbers.

Damage and Concerns

Spittlebugs are primarily a landscape concern. Feeding can cause purple, red, or white streaks along grass blades. Heavily affected turf may wilt, yellow, brown, and curl at the tips; severe, prolonged infestations can thin or kill patches of grass, especially centipedegrass. Adults may also cause wilting or discoloration of new growth on hollies and a few other ornamentals.

The insects do not bite or sting people or pets, do not transmit human or animal diseases, and do not damage building materials or contaminate indoor food. The frothy masses themselves are harmless, though many property owners find them unsightly. Most activity results in aesthetic rather than structural or health problems.

When Are Spittlebugs Active in South Florida?

In South Florida, spittlebug activity is driven more by moisture and humidity than by sharp seasonal temperature changes. Overwintering eggs typically hatch from late March into April. First-generation adults become abundant around June, with a second peak commonly occurring from early August into September. Years with above-average spring and summer rainfall often produce higher numbers.

Thick thatch and frequent irrigation further support development. Activity remains outdoor and is most visible during morning hours. Sudden increases after rainy periods are common when conditions favor egg hatch and nymph survival.

Why DIY Spittlebug Control Misses the mark

Home treatments sometimes provide only temporary improvement. Professional service becomes the more practical next step when activity keeps returning, covers larger areas of the lawn, or affects valued ornamental plantings.

  • Treating Only Visible Stages | Visible adults or spittle masses may be treated while eggs remaining in thatch or grass stems continue the next generation.
  • Missing Protected Nymphs | Thick thatch and dense turf can shield nymphs from contact products applied from above.
  • Leaving Habitat Intact | Reducing only the insects without addressing excess thatch or overly frequent irrigation leaves the habitat favorable for reinfestation.
  • Reinfestation from Nearby Areas | Adults can move in from neighboring untreated lawns or landscape areas.
  • Misidentifying the Cause | Yellowing turf can have several causes; treating the wrong issue wastes time and product.
Schedule Service
spittlebug treatment in South Florida

Lower-Impact Options

When conditions allow, Pest Busterzz emphasizes precise placement, habitat modification, and monitoring to limit broader product use while still addressing the population and the conditions that support it.

The Pest Busterzz Spittlebug Treatment Approach

Pest Busterzz focuses on confirming the pest, evaluating the extent of activity, and addressing both the insects and the landscape conditions that support them.

01

Inspection

We identify the insect, assess the extent of nymph and adult activity, examine thatch depth and moisture conditions, and note preferred host plants such as susceptible turf varieties and hollies.

02

Targeted Treatment

The service plan is based on inspection findings and may include localized treatments directed at active areas, attention to the thatch layer where nymphs develop, and exterior management focused on the turf and ornamental plantings supporting the population.

03

Monitoring & Follow-Up

Activity is rechecked as needed to evaluate results, confirm whether successive generations are appearing, and adjust the approach if new areas of the landscape become involved. Timing depends on the generation cycle and local weather patterns.

04

Prevention

Recommendations commonly focus on reducing excessive thatch, moderating irrigation to avoid prolonged surface moisture, mowing at appropriate heights, and maintaining overall turf vigor so grass can better tolerate feeding.

That frothy material is produced by immature spittlebugs (nymphs). It protects them from drying out and from some predators while they feed at the base of the grass. Gently parting the turf often reveals the soft-bodied nymph inside.

Adult two-lined spittlebugs are dark brown to black with red eyes and legs and two clear orange-red lines across the wings. They hop quickly when disturbed. Finding the white spittle masses nearby is strong supporting evidence.

They can. Feeding may produce streaking, tip yellowing, browning, and thinning of turf, especially in centipedegrass and under high-humidity conditions. Most damage is aesthetic, though heavy, prolonged activity can injure larger patches.

No. They do not bite or sting, and they are not associated with disease transmission to humans or animals. The froth itself is also harmless.

High humidity and moisture favor egg hatch and nymph survival. Excess thatch that stays damp further supports development, so populations often rise after extended wet weather.

Not necessarily. Eggs and nymphs protected in the thatch or at the plant base can continue the cycle. Addressing the full generation and the habitat conditions usually produces more lasting results.

They are outdoor insects associated with turf and ornamental plants. Finding them inside is uncommon and usually incidental.

Consider scheduling an inspection when spittle masses or adult numbers are widespread, turf discoloration is progressing, valued plantings are affected, or activity returns after home efforts.

Pest Busterzz Home Icon

faqs

Spittlebug FAQs

Back to Pest Library