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Glite Dictionary
spittlebug

spittlebug

9.9
A small insect that eats plants and lives inside a frothy foam on stems and leaves
  • noun
  • /ˈspɪtəlˌbʌg/
translation icon : insecto escupidor
  • While inspecting the plants, she found several spittlebugs jumping around in the garden.

It seems unfair to blame the tiny spittlebugs for such a deadly threat.

Examples

  • It seems unfair to blame the tiny spittlebugs for such a deadly threat.

    SciShow

  • The gardener noticed a cluster of spittlebugs hiding in the frothy mass on the leaves.

  • She learned that spittlebugs produce foam to protect themselves while feeding on the plant sap.

Synonyms

spittle insect
vsspittlebug
9.6

A small jumping insect that lives in frothy bubbles on plant stems to protect its young

secretes the protective froth itself rather than by larvae

Compounds

meadow spittlebug
  • US
9.8

A small insect that makes frothy white masses on grass and can harm plants

pine spittlebug
  • US
9.7

An insect in North America that feeds on pine trees and makes foamy masses on branches

Saratoga spittlebug
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect that feeds on pine trees and makes foam on branches

Surface Forms

spittlebug singular
spittlebugs plural

Morphology

spittlebug = spittle + bug (transparent) = spittle + bug

Literal compound: an insect associated with or producing spittle/froth, so meaning follows directly from the components.

Etymology

The word spittlebug is made of spittle ('spit' or 'saliva') and bug ('insect'), because these small insects hide inside a frothy, spit-like foam on plants to protect themselves and stay dry.