spittle insect
- noun
- /ˈspɪtəl ˈɪnsekt/
:
insecto escupidor
- A spittle insect produces frothy bubbles on plant stems to protect its young.
Examples
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The garden was dotted with the froth created by spittle insects.
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A scientist studied how the spittle insect leaps from one plant to another.
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The spittle insect can be found in gardens.
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Many spittle insects thrive in wet environments.
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The garden was dotted with the froth created by spittle insects.
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A spittle insect produces frothy bubbles on plant stems to protect its young.
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Many spittle insects thrive in wet environments.
Synonyms
A small insect that eats plants and lives inside a frothy foam on stems and leaves
A small insect that jumps high and whose young make white foam on plants
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is a straightforward compound: 'spittle' + 'insect' denotes an insect associated with spittle (i.e., one that lives in or produces froth). This literal compositional pattern is predictable and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Spittle insect is named for the frothy spittle the insect makes on plant stems to hide and protect itself and its young. So spittle insect means a small jumping insect that lives in that protective 'froth'.
