Thursday 23 June 2016

Froghopper




Have you ever wondered what causes foam to appear on certain plants in your garden? I used to think it was passers-by gozzing on my beautiful scented bush, until my maid of all work Carmen told me it was caused by insects, but she had no idea what they looked like, so I had a root around with a stick and saw the culprits for myself.


The Common Froghopper nymph, as it's name suggests, is a frog like insect about 3mm long and lives in a protective mass of foam, known as cuckoo spit, it makes the foam by blowing tiny bubbles out of it's arse, a self frothing arsehole if you like, a thing of dreams. Those nymphs start out green, turning brown as they mature into adulthood and are capable of jumping 28 inches. If we were able to jump that length we would cover 650ft, 1 mile in 8 jumps, 1040 jumps I could be in Blackpool within the hour with my party frock on.


Photos courtesy of the internet.


14 comments:

  1. Hats off to Insectologist Carmen for her quick and accurate handling of that crisis! As a reward, I hope she was given time off to vote today!

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    1. She voted to stay weeks ago via post. I sold my postal vote to my Great Aunt Alice for a big bag of shopping from Waitrose.

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  2. "self-frothing arsehole..." I think I'll stick with cuckoo spit.

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  3. I grew up calling them "spittlebugs" although I don't recall ever seeing the bug itself... only the spittle.

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    1. I got a bit of a froth on at the hypnosis clinic just a few minutes ago.

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  4. Im Blackpool with your party frock on and your butthole covered in spitty froth, ready for a good time.

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  5. My grandmother used to tell me it was pixie's spit.xx

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    1. They used to tell us all sorts of rubbish, during thunder storms my gran used to say it was God moving his bed.

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  6. You know...one could use the spitty froth in pinch if one found oneself in a wooded area of the park late at night with a partner...

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    1. Do try it Ayem8y, who knows it could have medicinal/tightening properties.

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  7. Self frothing arsenal hole.... now that would be an interesting party trick.....
    Sx

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    1. I do a party trick with Cadbury's crème eggs you know.

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