Insect
Deois flavopicta
Deois flavopictaAlso known as Pasture Spittlebug
Pasture spittlebugs are xylem-feeding insects that thrive across Neotropical savannas and managed grasslands, particularly throughout the Brazilian Cerrado. Nymphs shelter within protective, moisture-retaining masses of white foam at the base of grass tillers before emerging as winged adults patterned in black and bright yellow. When adults feed, they inject phytotoxic saliva into host grasses, triggering extensive foliar necrosis across vast agricultural pastures.
GrasslandHerbivoreDiurnal
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySignal grass, Guinea grass, Native savanna grasses
Predators
- Syrphid fly larvae
- Jumping spiders
- Insectivorous birds
ThreatsInsecticide spraying, biological control fungi, and prolonged drought
HabitatsPastures, savannas, grasslands, and agricultural margins
Life span2–4 months
Classification
- OrderHemiptera
- FamilyCercopidae
- GenusDeois
- SpeciesDeois flavopicta
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Locating Nymphs: Inspect the soil surface around the crowns of dense grass clumps to spot conspicuous frothy spittle masses.
- Observing Adults: Approach pasture grasses gently during early daylight hours before warmth makes adults quick to leap away.
Predator (c) Carlos Alexandre Mattos Raposo, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Carlos Alexandre Mattos Raposo · cc-by
Image unavailableHost Plant 
Same Family (c) Edson Luis Fabro Gasperin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Edson Luis Fabro Gasperin · cc-by-saSame Family
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