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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> True bugs (Hemiptera) (10 Sub-galleries) >> Spittlebugs (Cercopidae) > Spittlebug case
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03-JUN-2007 Christine Hanrahan

Spittlebug case

Larose Forest. I find these nest cases to be particularly beautiful when you get up close to them!
Spittlebug adults lay their eggs in the stems of plants in the fall. When the eggs hatch in the spring the young nymphs emerge and immediately create these 'nests' or cases in which to live until ready to face the world as an adult! They make the spittle by chewing the plant stems (on which they feed) and excreting the spittle (made up of plant juices) which then falls down to cover them. They undergo several moults while in these cases (although some may move house with each new moult and create a new spittle case each time) before transforming into adults. Ingenious, really!

Canon PowerShot S3 IS
1/500s f/4.0 at 6.0mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
marko gregoric16-May-2010 13:55
This is a really beautiful moment... Very nice image... V.
Margot W13-Sep-2009 00:57
Thanks for bringing me this close. WOW!
V
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