spittle-insect

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Any one of several different homopterous insects of the family Cercopidæ, as species of Aphrophora, Lepyronia, and Ptyelus; a spit-bug or froghopper. The larvæ and pupæ live upon plants, enveloping and entirely concealing themselves within a mass of frothy material which they secrete, sometimes called toad-spittle or frog-spit and cuckoo-spit. See cut under froghopper.