What is the point of cuckoospit?
The white, foamy nests produced by plant bug nymphs are whipped up using a mixture of air released from respiratory openings (known as spira acles) and liquid exuded from the an nus. Strangely, the foam makes these litt tle green insects more conspicuou us rather than less, and doesn’t seem to contain toxins or repellents. It may still provide a physical defenc ce against insect predators, or prevent dehydration or overheating, though there is little evidence for any of these possibilit ties. What has been shown is thatt the foam shields the bugs fro om the harmful effects of UV V radiation in bright sunligh ht. The smaller the bubbles, the more effective the sunscr reen.