Monitor cuckoo spit and spittlebugs

11th June 2020

According to the RHS, the bacterial disease Xylella fastidiosa has 563 different host plants worldwide; it has spread through Europe (devastating olive groves in Italy) and at the moment the UK is clear of the disease but on high alert. The bacterium is moved from one plant to another by small sap-sucking insects such as the spittlebug or froghopper, and you can help with research into the potential for vectors to spread the disease by reporting any sightings at https://www.spittlebugsurvey.co.uk/.You don't need to kill spittlebugs - just help scientists monitor their distribution!