These pictures are of the spittlebug hidden inside the foam on goldenrod in my yard.

The spittlebug is a tiny green bug with black eyes. Juvenile bugs produce foam on plant leaves and stems as they feed. A nymph excretes this foam-like substance from its anus. The foam protects it from predators and extreme temperatures. Adults do not produce spittle.

No control is really necessary. Wash the plant off with the garden hose. For heavy infestations, chemicals can be used, one of them being malathion. Read the label on the bottle and follow instructions.

Sharon Cohee