Have you ever seen these foamy masses on your plants?
Spittlebug nymphs excrete a fluid and literally whip it into a bubbly foam.
They then hide from predators inside it.
So imagine my surprise, when I encountered this scene one summer morning!
The wasp climbed up the flower stalk and began to devour the hiding bugs.
After a brief rest, it licked its chops, and flew off!
The entire time, both the wasp and I kept a close eye on each other!
😉
I’m curious to know if you have spittlebugs where you live?
Sabine
in cahoots with muddy boots 
You did get up close and personal with this guy. I have not seen that but then I don’t see much out there other than the spider webs that are covering everything. Not sure what to do about it either. Guess the wasp has some value other than tormenting us. 🙂 Hope you are enjoying this gorpy, wet Sunday. My son has snow and the AC unit was leaking into the roof. I’ll take the rain. We sure needed it.
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We had more wasps than usual this year. We had to call someone out for a nest above the patio door. I prefer spiders though. Love to watch them weave their webs. Snow already in that corner of the world! I’m not ready for fall or winter! 🙋
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I’d have to get rid of nest that close too. I like to watch spiders at a distance. Ours are way too big to want close by. I know we need them. I was so ready for fall but maybe not winter yet. 😉
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I know what you mean about the weather! Suddenly dark and dreary outside! I hope your week is going well Marlene! 😘
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Very up close! I especially like the shot where he’s looking directly at us. Fabulous! Enjoy your week, Sabine.
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Yes, very close indeed! Thanks for always reading Missy! 😊
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Of course!
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Awesome shots, Sabine! 🙂
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Thanks Tom! 😊
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Spittlebug has to be one of my favourite names! I wonder if it is what we call ‘Cuckoo spit’? Amazing photos!
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Very fabulous pictures! But what a mean little wasp. I grew up in Iowa and we had spittle bugs there.
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Thanks for always reading! 🙋
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I’ve never seen or heard of Spittlebugs nor seen their foamy hideaway and this was a fascinating post Sabine. Was that wasp wearing a rather smug look in the last few pictures or am I reading too much into it? 🙂
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Hi Linda, I think you’re right about that look! I was just happy the wasp left me alone! As to the spittlebugs, we’ve had them in most of the places I’ve lived along the West-coast. They’ve never done any damage in my garden which is why I let them be. 😊
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I’ve never seen them here in Michigan Sabine but they were unusual and the foam as well. I think that wasp had a very smug look and glad he liked Spittlebugs better than you!
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Me too! 😉
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A few years back I had yellow jackets living in the ground where a stump was, I was reluctant on going down the route of killing them. So I went on the internet and started looking up if they are beneficial in any way to justify my not wanting to kill them. And I found this article about them and they are a great pest control for a garden. So I let them be, they were not in a spot that was bothering anyone.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/pest-control/benefits-of-wasps-yellow-jackets-zw0z1303zkin
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I let them be as well, except when we had a nest right by the patio door. Whenever we’d go in or out they would get agitated. That’s when we took action. When I saw this wasp devour the spittlebugs I looked it up online. They are beneficial despite their aggressive behavior! I’ll check out the article! Thanks for sharing it! 😊
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These pics are amazing. yes we have spittal bugs in the spring I think. yuck.
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Thanks Christine! I remember having them in Santa Rosa!
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