As the nymph sucks juice from a leaf, liquid is secreted from several sections of the insect's abdomen, which means the spittle is not actually saliva, it's urine! It is then mixed with air and bubbled around its maker, forming a snug shelter. The spittle withstands normal rainfall, helps keep predators at bay, and regulates the temperature and moisture levels.
If you see some "spit" on a plant, you might want to take a careful look inside. Gently push some of the foam aside with a finger or twig. Deep inside you may see a few insects eating plant juice. They might also be making more bubbles. Be sure to push the foam back after a moment to cover the insects and keep them safe.
Before too long the nymph will metamorphose into an adult and they stop making a foam home. The adults look a little like tiny frogs and they have some serious hopping skills. Meet the froghoppers! They also dine on similar fare they enjoyed as youngsters: grasses, clovers and other herbaceous plants. Putting those hopping skills to the test, froghoppers try to evade predators such as spiders, songbirds and wasps. During the late summer females lay eggs on plants and the cycle continues with nymphs emerging the next spring.
