More important to some producers, particularly u-pick growers, is the annoyance that spittle masses cause pickers. Although the spittle is harmless, pickers object to being wetted by the insect excretion. Spittlebugs can be recognized by the white masses of wet foam or spittle on leaves, petioles, and stems. The tiny green nymphs produce the spittle covering to protect themselves from predators and desiccation. Newly emerged adults are bright green and darken to a dull brown.
Nymphs feed for five to eight weeks before entering the adult stage.
Adults are seen on foliage from late May until frost, but usually go unnoticed because they produce no spittle. Adults lay their eggs in the stems and leaves of plants from July through October. There is only one generation per year. Initially the nymphs feed at the base of the plants, but later move up to the tender foliage. Feeding may cause leaves to become wrinkled and dark-green.