Cuckoo spit

Cuckoo spit

Description

Title:
Cuckoo spit
Caption / Description:

'Cuckoo spit' produced by a Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius) nymph. The nymph feeds on plant sap, and excretes excess sap mixed with a secretion from the abdominal glands through the anus. The nymph blows air into this fluid as it excreted, creating the bubbles.

The 'cuckoo spit' keeps the froghopper nymph moist and stops it from drying out, as well as giving some degree of temperature control. It also acts as a defense, hiding the nymph, and having a taste unpleasant to predators.

Tags / Keywords:
  • Biota
  • Life
  • Vitae
  • Eukaryota
  • Animalia
  • Animals
  • Arthropoda
  • Arthropods
  • Insecta
  • Insects
  • Hemiptera
  • True bugs
  • Aphrophoridae
  • Philaenus
  • Philaenus spumarius
  • Common froghopper
  • Spittlebug
  • Spit bug
  • Froth
  • Bubbles
  • Cuckoo spit
  • Snake spit

Admin

Date Original Photo Taken:
Original File Name:
_MG_0769.CR2
Event:
Rating:
Date this image added/last updated on website:
Original File Dimensions:
2848px x 4272px
File Type:
JPEG
Color Mode:
RGB
Original Image Color Profile:
Adobe RGB (1998)

Location

Location Created:
Sublocation:
City:
Market Harborough
Province/State:
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
World Region:
Europe
Geo-location:

Rights

Copyright Status:
Copyrighted
Licensing Status:
Rights Managed
Available for Editorial Use:
Yes
Available for Commercial Use:
Yes
Copyright Notice:
© 2010 Dave Kennard

Camera Data

Date Digital Resource was created:
Shutter speed:
1200 s
Aperture:
f/5
Camera Model:
Canon EOS 450D
ISO:
100
Exposure Compensation:
0
Focal Length:
65mm
Focal Length (35mm equiv.):
Metering Mode:
Multi-segment
Flash:
On, Fired
Exposure Mode:
Manual
White Balance:
Manual
Light Source:
Exposure Program:
Manual

Additional shooting metadata

Lens:
Canon MP-E 65mm F2.8 1-5x Macro
Filters used:
Additional Optics used:
Setup:
Handheld
Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Flash with home-made Concave diffusers

Post Processing

Image Modified:
Software used:
  • Adobe Camera RAW
Post Processing: