A gardening expert has showcased what’s inside an unusual froth that has been spotted in gardens across the UK. Take a look below:
Nataplant, a TikTok creator, explained that the 'blobs of foam' are in fact a substance produced by an insect called a spittlebug.
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She began in her video: "Let me show you something really interesting, this right here may look like a big ball of foam but a big blob of foam but I'm going to show you what's inside
"I'm going to use a stick because I really don't want to touch this. It's gooey and looks like spit.
"This is from a spittlebug, this spittlebug is green, like it's blending in really nicely with the plant, really, it's hiding.
"There it is, that is the spittlebug and it put itself into that spitty substance to protect itself from predators, keep it safe from temperatures" (sic).
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But that’s not all, as Nataplant warned her fellow gardening enthusiasts to remove the spittle if they see the substance on their plants as it can have detrimental effect.
She urged: "But you want to get them off your plants because they will feed on the sap of the plant. They'll pierce the stem and eat through whatever stem they're on and destroy your plants.
"Most time you can get rid of them by blasting them with a hose, give it a good strong blast with the hose. I just wanted to show you want it looked like."
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After sharing her video, the content creator was inundated with comments from followers thanking her for the helpful advice.
"Thank you, I always have in my garden," one wrote, as a second added: "OH WOW!!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!”
"Thank you for sharing so we know what to look for," a follower commented.
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The clip comes after Brits were given an urgent warning over the unusual froth, which is usually found clumped onto plant stems or in long grass.
Although the balls of foam may look innocuous, anyone who spots the froth is urged to report it as it is potentially harmful to the surrounding flora and fauna.
The foam is linked to the spread of a deadly plant disease called Xyella which can harm native species, Yorkshire Live reports.
The insect is active from the end of May to the end of June, so right now it is peak season for sightings.
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Although the bugs don’t hurt humans, they are potential carriers for Xyella, deemed one of the world's most dangerous pathogens by experts.
In recent years, the disease has devastated olive groves in Italy and if found in the UK, all plants within a 100m radius would need to be destroyed.
Not only that, but it would also require plants in a 5km radius to those plants affected to go into a quarantine for up to five years afterwards for fear the disease could wipe out native UK plant species.
As the spittlebug is a potential carrier of the disease, experts have asked the public to keep their eyes peeled and report any sightings of the foam in a bid to stop any outbreaks.
If you think you’ve spotted the froth, you can report a sighting here.
Lisa McLoughlin