The photo shows the white, frothlike mass of spittle produced by the immature nymphs. The spittlebug nymph sucks juices from the buds, young shoots, and nut clusters of the pecan tree. Heavy feeding by these insects often kills terminal shoots, and a smaller crop results.
The pecan spittlebug overwinters in the egg stage. The nymphs hatch in the spring and feed as previously discussed until they become full-grown adults. The pale brown adults have a reddish tinge and are often call froghoppers because of their resemblance to frogs. The adult spittlebug deposits its eggs in slits made in the bark of the previous season's growth.
