Backyard Zoology · 20 April 2017
2017-04-20T17:11:09+10:00
https://www.facebook.com/backyardzoology/posts/pfbid0ShvuFHnaFg1zcyVAeYpWZJH89uYn9jxQQEqg4znek71TcbGt61hevyjd1dGY8NPnl

Had a There's Something About Mary moment today when I walked in the door only to find my fringe full of wet, white foamy stuff! 😳 A bit of foraging around revealed a CREATURE!!! A very tiny and very cute creature but one that definitely wasn't in my hair at the start of the day!!!

Turns out (I think) I had brushed past a tree and picked up a spittlebug nymph and its protective coating. Basically the 'spittle' is secreted from the anal region and moved up and over its body by waving its back end around. The foamy bubbles then protect the nymph from predators and changes in temperature. You can even see a little bubble and the back end of the body extending in the video. Very odd, very cool creature!

(Probably, most likely) Spittlebug Nymph