This baffles me

[burnie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48383730

I've never seen one of these bugs and I always thought it was frog hoppers that did the cuckoo spit thing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froghopper.

[Jay-ell]

The bit saying "Xylella has struck several EU countries, blighting olive groves in southern Italy. The UK is clear of the disease but is on high alert" made me wonder how many olive groves there are in the UK. - apart from mine that is.

[Martin H]

I don't see the point of the survey. Surely these froghoppers are absolutely everywhere? They might be better trying to find to find somewhere where there aren't any?

[Jay-ell]

How can you tell the difference between a spittle bugs spittle and a plot neighbours?

[nickdub]

How can you tell the difference between a spittle bugs spittle and a plot neighbours?

Lasting quality is the easiest -if the bubbly froth is still present 2 hours after first spotting it, then its the bugs'.

[DannyK]

I don't see the point of the survey. Surely these froghoppers are absolutely everywhere? They might be better trying to find to find somewhere where there aren't any?

I thought they were endemic here. Just hose them off. What they need to know is if they are carrying pathogen.

[Snoop Puss]

We've got lots this year. The article made me wonder whether I should start killing them.

[Martin H]

We've got lots this year. The article made me wonder whether I should start killing them.

I expect they are an important food source for some creature or other (one that doesn't mind its meal covered with froth from its prey's bottom).

[Jungle Jane]

There’s a list of high risk host plants here affected by the bacteria. I think our spittle bugs are safe because they haven’t been sap sucking from any infected plants yet,they don’t have the bacteria to spread. Customs must be able to check imported plant roots etc to hopefully stop it coming here?
https://planthealthportal.defra.gov....e-version7.pdf

[burnie]

I did read the article, I just haven't seen these multi coloured bugs, I had some cuckoospit on a strawberry plant in the greenhouse the other day, still not seen this coloured bug. I must have only seen juveniles as the bugs I have seen were all green.

[Snoop Puss]

There’s a list of high risk host plants here affected by the bacteria. I think our spittle bugs are safe because they haven’t been sap sucking from any infected plants yet,they don’t have the bacteria to spread. Customs must be able to check imported plant roots etc to hopefully stop it coming here?
https://planthealthportal.defra.gov....e-version7.pdf

I'd be amazed if they could check every single plant, in particular their roots.

[Jay-ell]

I did read the article, I just haven't seen these multi coloured bugs, I had some cuckoospit on a strawberry plant in the greenhouse the other day, still not seen this coloured bug. I must have only seen juveniles as the bugs I have seen were all green.

It's the larvae of the bug that makes the cuckoo spit. Once it pupates it wanders off as an adult bug.