Two-Lined Spittlebug

Adult spittlebugs are black with red-orange eyes, legs, and wing bands. The wingless nymphs resemble the adults in shape but they are smaller and off-white, orange, or yellow with red eyes. Close to the soil the nymphs produce a frothy mass of spittle for protection from drying and natural enemies. Two-lined spittlebugs overwinter as eggs in hollow stems, behind leaf sheaths, and in plant debris in the soil. Nymphs hatch in May and early June. Both adults and nymphs damage lawn grasses by piercing the plant tissue with their needlelike mouthparts and sucking out sap. Most damage is done by the nymphs. Injured grass becomes wilted, turns yellow, and then browns and dies. Heavy populations must be present to cause noticeable damage. Centipedegrass tends to be more severely damaged than bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, or zoysiagrass.

Control: Most feeding can be tolerated. Remove thatch layers thicker than one-half inch. Insecticides are available for controlling heavy infestations.