spit like substance in my carrots

mandycharlie · « **on:** June 13, 2007, 23:54 »

I was weeding my carrots yesterday and I noticed a couple of times that I saw a frothy spit like substance.

I suspect that this is not very good news...

what is it?

ziggywigs · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2007, 00:03 »

Sounds like cuckoo spit or frog spit (same thing)....it is a protective covering for nymphs of the spittlebug...use a blast of water to clear the foam and then you can see the nymph to get rid of or the birds will do it for you.

loubylou29 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2007, 07:39 »

How interesting!!
I always remember it being called cockoo spit as a child, and I have seen loads on the lavender and rosmary plants, none in the carrots as far as I can see, but I will check.

What is a spittle bug? (i did this out of my own curiosity!)

http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1insects/spittlebug.html

crowndale · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2007, 07:42 »

I have this on my blackberries, its rained very heavily here, will go and check if its still there or not!

DD. · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2007, 08:17 »

As ziggywigs said, this is the larva of the 'spittlebug', or 'froghopper'. I've never worried about it & as the RHS says, it has little detrimental effect on the plant, so I would forget about it & leave nature alone.

RHS

mandycharlie · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2007, 12:51 »

thanks for that.

I also read that it wouldn't cause much of a detrimental effect so I will leave them alone to commune with nature. Although I may have a little poke about just to see what one looks like in the flesh (or is that the bug) so to speak.

ziggywigs · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2007, 19:33 »

Spittlebug picture.

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