Illinois Natural History Survey Identification Notes 2 
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or more transverse bands of darker color on the dorsal surface of the head 
and pronotum, and usually have contrasting colors on the scutellume 
Damage most evident from the feeding of this species is the die~off of 
fruit-producing terminals. This reduction of potential yield may average as 
high as eighty-seven percent in some orchards at times of high spittlebug 
populations. 
Lepyronia quadrangularis Say 
This is primarily a woods and woods! edge species whose nymphs develop 
on grasses, poison ivy, and other low growing vegetation. Sometimes nymphs 
of this species and those of the meadow spittlebug occur together in orchard 
or field border - wood's edge situations. These nymphs sometimes can be 
distinguished very readily from those of Philaenus leucopthalmus, since they 
often have the posterior part of the head and the upper pert of the thorax 
and wing pads darkened in the nymphal cuticle. Such cuticle coloration is 
unknown for the meadow spittlebug. 
Philaenus leucopthalmus Linnaeus ~ meadow spittlebug 
This is by far the most commonly encountered spittlebug in the state, 
having relatively recently established itself as a pest on many small grain 
and forage crops in practically every area in Illinois. Specimens of spittle- 
bug mymphs collected from fields of these crops are almost invariably meadow 
Spittlebugse This species, is a rather general feeder which can mature, 
sometimes in pest proportions, on numerous other plant hostse It has been 
recorded as a pest on orchard plantings, roses, strawberries, and in green= 
houses .« 
Eggs are laid between leaf sheaths near the soil in September and October, 
pass the winter, and hatch in early April. There are either four or five 
nymphal instars, with adults appearing in early May and remaining active until 
frost. Adults of the meadow spittlebug are quite variable in coloration. 
They may be distinguished from other Illinois species in this genus by their 
possession of a large, median, oval dark spot on the mesosternume 
Feeding is generally confined to more succulent, newer growth resulting 
in such symptoms as reduced plant vitality, reduced seed or hay production, 
stunted growth, shortened internodes, and rosettinge The meadow spittlebug 
is a proven vector of Pierce's disease of grapevines and alfalfa, of peach 
yellows, and of alfalfa dwarf, all virus diseases, 
Tomaspis bicincta Say 
There are two color forms of this large species both of which occur in 
Illinois. The northern one is very dark brown or black while the southern 
form is brown with two or three transverse reddish or yellowish bands on the 
upper surfacee Nymphs have been collected on grasses of the genus Digitaria. 
Adults are recorded as feeding, sometimes in pest proportions, on grasses, 
holly, and sweet corn. The species is only locally abundant in [Illinois 
