Cuckoo spit

[Alan B]

http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=ycjyjt&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

I've allways known it as cockoo spit,but why is it called cockoo spit ?(i cant believe its actually comes from a cuckoo ?)

Does anyone know how the "spit" gets there :confused: (and no it was'nt from me :rolleyes: :lol: )

[nitsch]

Mmm... Nice! LOL!

I believe its produced by some kind of insect.

[BlueTit]

Hi Alan B, the answer is very simple if you are not too screamish, just collect the spit between you index finger and thumb gently and see what you find inside :-) A little bright green aphid like creature. I have no idea what they are properly called, some people call them spittle bugs, they are interesting looking little guys. I assume they suck the sap from plants, they are nearly always at a leaf joint. I imagine the spit is a by-product.

Enjoy!

[BlueTit]

Nitsch, I must type too slow, you got there before me :-)

[Alan B]

hmmm thats some interesting stuff.Right i'm off to scower through my insect book to locate the chap.

Thanks :)

[nitsch]

Nitsch, I must type too slow, you got there before me :-)

LOL! Maybe, but your explanation was slightly better than my "it's some kind of insect" answer! :D

[BlueTit]

For the craic I changed my avatar to a robin! How do you re-size them to be acceptable and keep the quality so good, my poor robin looks awful :-(

Back to the spittle bug or whatever it is, there are loads in the garden so I think that's a macro project for tomorrow :-)

[soupdragon]

I must have slaughtered a good few of those yesterday while trimming my hedge.

They seem to love Privet, my hedge was quite literally dripping with the stuff.

[BlueTit]

Alan B meet the maker of cuckoo spit, bith taken with MP-E65mm & MT24 flash.

1/250 f16 ISO800
http://photos13.flickr.com/18389635_f7131de754_o.jpg

1/250 f13 ISO800
http://photos12.flickr.com/18389634_4141c3a88d_o.jpg

[Leorooster]

Great shots. How do you like your MP-E 65? Is it very tough to use at 5x?

[Alan B]

Well i never :shock: .There it is :cool:

Awesome shots.Thanks alot for tracking the spit maker down :D

[BlueTit]

Alan B you're welcome, it was a good excuse to get out the MP-E 65.

Leorooster. I like it's ability to magnify to 5x, but you're right it is very tough at 5x it ain't all plain sailing at 3x either especially with moving subjects like this little fellow. I have a copy stand which I mount the camera on and it is handy, in fact I don't know how I would manage without it, but the copy stand brings it's own proble, like trying to look through the view finder! Even with Angle C gizmo, it is hard to look in without touching the table which causes movement etc. So all in all I like it but it is hard work.

[JTF]

Apart from appearing about the same time as cuckoos are heard, the froth has no connection with any bird. Instead it is secreted by the immature stages of sap-sucking insects known as froghoppers, presumably as a means of protecting themselves against predators. The adult insects live openly on the plant and do not produce any cuckoo spit