Species: Aphrophora parallella (Say)

Distribution: Eastern half of North America

Hosts: Conifers of all sizes; prefers eastern white, Scotch and jack pines.

Damage:

Heavy infestations may stunt or kill shoots as the feeding activity clogs the tree vascular system. Black sooty mold grows on the spittle which drops onto needles and branches. This is the most common damage caused by this pest. The feeding wounds are also sites for infection of various fungi, especially Diplodia tip and stem blight.

Description and Life Cycle:

This pest is most commonly recognized when the nymphs make the bubbly spittle masses on small branches of conifers.

Pine spittlebugs overwinter as eggs inserted in dead twigs or slits cut into the bark of living stems. The eggs hatch in early May and the young nymphs migrate to the tender one-year-old growth. After inserting their mouthparts, the nymphs begin to produce the frothy spittle from their anus. The spittle apparently protects the nymphs from predators, parasites and dry weather. As the spittle drops onto lower branches, black sooty mold may cover the needles. The young nymphs are yellowish with black markings; older nymphs become more brown. Several nymphs may join together in one large spittle mass and the nymphs constantly abandon old masses to make new ones. The nymphs mature by July and soon leave the spittle in order to molt into the winged adult. The adults do not form spittle masses but quickly jump and fly if disturbed. The adults are mottled gray with two faint parallel lines running across the wings.

Control Hints:

Few cultural and biological controls exist for this pest but minor populations rarely need treatment. If heavy populations occur or if Diplodia is a common problem, insecticides should be applied for nymphal control or adult control.

Option 1: Cultural Control - Sanitation and Thinning - Remove all old, dead branches which are attractive for egg laying by the females. Opening up the plantation by thinning and weed control to improve air flow can also reduce the populations of this pest.

Option 2: Chemical Control - Insecticide Sprays - Applications of registered insecticides should be made in late May and early June when the spittle masses are noticed. The adults can also be targeted for in mid July, after 90% of the spittle masses have been abandoned.