Tools and Materials
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
Key Takeaways
- Spittlebugs are small insects that feed on plant sap.
- Spittlebug nymphs create masses of foam to protect themselves from predators.
- Unless you find many foam masses and notice plant damage or stress, you don’t need to get rid of spittlebugs.
- If you do need to get rid of spittlebugs, removing them by hand or knocking them off plants with a stream of water will get rid of them.
- Properly using pesticides labeled as effective against spittlebugs can work if you first remove the protective foam.
- Cleaning up your garden before fall makes it less attractive to egg-laying females and can reduce the number of bugs in spring.
- Follow use and safety instructions for the products you use, including instructions about safety gear.
What Are Spittlebugs?
Spittlebugs are insects that feed on plant sap from junipers, pine trees, roses, annual beans, strawberries and herbs, as well as most of the common turfgrasses. The common name comes from the foam the young insect nymphs create as they feed to protect them from predators.
Spittlebug nymphs are about the size of a grain of rice and can be pale green, tan or yellow in color and often have red eyes. The adult insect, also known as a froghopper for its jumping ability, is similar in size with tan, brown or black wings.
How to Get Rid of Spittlebugs
In small numbers, spittlebugs won’t do significant damage. If you only see a few spots of foam, there’s no need for treatment. However, larger infestations can weaken plants and reduce the yield of vegetables and fruits. In the lawn, large numbers of spittlebugs might cause patches of discolored grass. If you find many occurrences of the foam masses or your plants are showing visible signs of damage and stress, you need to get rid of the spittlebugs.
Check for Spittlebugs
Check your garden regularly in spring (usually April and May) for foam on stems, leaves and underneath leaves. In the lawn, look for foam among the blades of grass. Spring is when the nymphs develop and it’s the best time to treat plants for spittlebugs. The foam is relatively easy to spot, and nymphs won’t jump away like the adult bugs.
Option 1: Remove Spittlebugs by Hand
While the spittlebug foam isn’t harmful to people, it’s messy. You’ll probably want to wear a pair of latex- or nitrile-dipped gardening gloves or a pair of disposable cleaning gloves for this method. Wipe the foam away with a cloth and then pick out and crush the nymphs. Check your plants after a couple of weeks to ensure the pests don’t return.
Option 2: Remove Spittlebug Nymphs With a Hose
If you’d rather not touch the bugs and foam, knock them off your plants or lawn with a strong stream of water from a garden hose with an adjustable nozzle. Use the minimum pressure necessary and be careful around delicate plants or seedlings. Spray your plants several times over the following weeks as necessary to be sure the spittlebugs don’t reestablish themselves.
Option 3: Consider a Pesticide
You can find broad-spectrum pesticides for spittlebug control. Pesticides with active ingredients such as neem oil, insecticidal soap and pesticide-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) can also be effective if they have direct contact with the nymphs, but these require several treatments. For any pesticide to be effective, you need to remove the protective foam from the insects before application.
Make sure the product is labeled as effective against spittlebugs and consider if it will harm pollinators and other beneficial insects, like spiders and assassin bugs that prey on spittlebugs and other pests.
If you’re treating an edible plant, ensure the pesticide is safe for use on the specific plant and note how long you need to wait after application before harvesting the plant.
When mixing or using any synthetic or natural pesticide, wear the specified safety gear, such as eye protection, cleaning gloves and a respirator, follow the product instructions closely and don’t overapply.
Prevent Spittlebugs From Returning
While spittlebugs typically aren’t a major concern, you can make your landscape less attractive to the insects by cleaning up garden clutter. Female spittlebugs lay eggs in plant debris and fallen leaves in a garden during September and October. Nymphs emerge in early spring and develop into adults. Cleaning up your beds before fall can reduce the number of eggs that hatch in spring and prevent potential damage to your plants.
Controlling Spittlebugs In Your Lawn or Garden
While spittlebugs aren’t usually a problem, if you see large numbers of the pests or notice plant damage, it’s time to act. Shop Lowes.com for everything you need to rid your landscape of spittlebugs. From garden hoses to spittlebug pesticides, you’ll find what you need to protect your plants. Or stop by your local Lowe’s and talk to a Red Vest associate. They’ll help you find everything you need to control spittlebugs and other insect pests so you can keep your plants healthy.
Getting Rid of Spittlebugs: FAQ
Answers to these common questions can help you decide if spittlebugs are a problem in your landscape and how you can remove them.
What’s the White Foam on My Plants?
In most cases, white foam on plants is a protective material surrounding a young spittlebug. As the nymph stage of the insect feeds on a plant, it creates the foam to shield it from predators and to help keep it from drying out.
How Do I Get Rid of Spittlebugs Naturally?
To remove spittlebugs naturally, you can wipe off the foam and remove the nymphs by hand or spray them off from an adjustable nozzle on a garden hose. Check your plants over a few weeks and repeat as necessary. Cleaning up debris from your garden before fall can make your landscape less attractive for egg-laying, reducing the number of bugs in spring.
Are Spittlebugs Harmful to Plants?
Spittlebugs feed on plant sap, but unless there’s a severe infestation of the insects, the damage they do is minor and treatment is unnecessary. However, if you find many of the foam masses in your garden or lawn, it’s a good idea to get rid of them.
Are Spittlebugs Harmful to Humans?
No, spittlebugs aren’t harmful to humans. They’re not aggressive, don’t sting and don’t typically bite. The foam the nymphs create is not poisonous.
Is Spittlebug Foam Poisonous?
No, spittlebug foam isn’t poisonous to people, pets or plants. It’s made up of water, secretions from the bugs and plant sap. It’s messy, however, so it’s best to wear gloves if you’re removing spittlebugs by hand.
Do Spittlebugs Bite?
No, spittlebugs typically don’t bite and are usually not harmful to people and pets. Accidental contact from the mouthparts of a spittlebug might feel like a slight sting, but the insects are not aggressive.