Froghopper

After leading a walk at the nature reserve today (rather short and much slower than normal due to my back problems), I was looking for caterpillars on a group of shrubs where I had seen lots of leaf damage. I had no joy with caterpillars, but did see a lot of these common froghoppers. These are in the group of jumping bugs where the nymphs live within a mass of froth, which is commonly known as cuckoo-spit. I found them fascinating to watch, but have to admit to knowing very little about them, despite serving on a committee for quite a few years with the national expert, Walter Le Quesne (another opportunity missed!).