Description:

Adults are small, about 3 or 4 mm long, brown, with a reddish tinge, and have darker brown areas on the middle of the forewings.   The wings normally have a roof-top appearance. The nymphs are small, about 3 mm long, creamy-white to green, wingless, and are normally covered with spittle (Figure 12). 

Damage:

Spittlebugs suck juices from the parts of the tree they attack -- usually buds, tender shoots, or nut clusters in spring and mid-summer. Heavy infestations rarely kill terminal shoots, resulting in a smaller crop.  Older nuts are reduced in quality. 

Seasonal History:

Spittlebugs overwinter in the egg stage in small slits in the bark on twigs of the previous season’s growth.  There are

When to Control:

Light infestations usually do not need control.  Controls should be applied if 5% or more of nut bearing terminals have spittle masses.