Definition

Noun: 1. A type of small insect belonging to the family Cercopidae, known for its jumping ability and for producing a frothy secretion on plants: A froghopper is a kind of spittlebug, a small, hopping insect whose nymph (young stage) creates a protective mass of foam, often called "cuckoo spit," on plant stems.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The gardener found froghopper nymphs hidden in the froth on the rose stems.
  • Despite its small size, the froghopper is one of the best jumpers in the insect world.

Advanced Usage

• As a subject in entomology: The term is used in scientific contexts to discuss the insect's unique biology.
  • The study focused on the froghopper's incredible jumping mechanism.

Variants and Related Words

• Spittlebug (noun): A common name for insects in the families Cercopidae and Aphrophoridae, which includes froghoppers. "Froghopper" is often used as a synonym for a type of spittlebug.
• Cercopidae (noun): The scientific family name for froghoppers.

Synonyms

• Spittle insect: Another general term for these insects.
• Cuckoo-spit insect: A name derived from the frothy secretion produced by the nymphs.

Noun

1. a variety of spittlebug