Illinois Natural History Survey Identification Notes 2 
-3~ 
Subanal plate having posterior projections which are 
more broadly rounded, fig. 19; late last instar 
nymphs with third segment of adult antenna formed 
beneath nymphal cuticle with sensory setae arranged 
around arista as in figs 20....... .Lepyronia 
Important Illinois Species 
Aphrophora parallela Say = pine spittlebug 
The presence of a pair of prominent, parallel dark stripes on a light 
background on the scutellum will separate adults of this species from those 
of the saratoga spittlebug which have a more or less uniformly light or dark 
colored scutellum. Nymphs are easily distinguished since they occur on pines, 
while those of the saratoga spittlebug occur on ferns and other low vegetation, 
but not on pines. The pine spittlebug inserts its eggs into the bark of branch-= 
lets, while the saratoga spittlebug lays its eggs between the bracts of terminal 
leaf buds or sheaths of the seasons needleSe 
First signs of feeding damage caused by the pine spittlebug are usually the 
sudden turning reddish-orange needles of scattered twigs, mainly in lower 
branches. A. parallela has been associated with the spread of Scotch Pine 
blight funguse 
Aphrophora saratogensis Fitch = saratoga spittlebug 
This is the only other spittlebug recorded from pine in Illinois and is 
the more common species here. Its stages may be distinguished from those of 
the pine spittlebug by means of characters listed in the preceeding discussions 
The illustrations for Aphrophora are drawn from specimens of this species. 
Pines primarily infested by the saratoga spittlebug show characteristic 
early signs of damage in the flagging of small branchlets and later of terminals 
of tops and laterals. The dying parts first turn a yellow-green color, then 
straw-color, and finally reddish. This species is associated with the spread 
of a fungus, Chilonectria cucurbitula, infecting damaged pines. 
Clastoptera achatina Germar = pecan spittlebug 
The pecan spittlebug may be readily recognized since it is the only 
Tllinois species known to occur in large numbers on pecan. It is the only 
spittlebug for which two generations per growing season are known in Illinois. 
The eggs are inserted in rows into bark of pecan twigse Nymphs occur mainly on 
terminals and young nuts, those of the first generation usually appearing 
about June 1 with those of the second generally hatching about July 10. Adults 
are often collected on other plants, but may be recognized from other species 
of this genus by their possession of a uniformly light yellow dorsum of the 
head, pronotum, and scutellum. Closely related species in this area have one 
