It's a Spittlebug

Well, here’s another insect post. 

I hope there are some kids out there

who might enjoy this. 

And some grown-ups too! 

My three kids and I were walking through the recently cut

 hay field with their Grammy the other week. 

Along the way we found some really fun bugs.

 

 I used to love these bugs as a kid.

 They’re what we called “spittlebugs”. 

They live on the stems or leaves of plants.

 While they eat, they keep safe from predators

 by hiding in a wad of foamy, slimy “spit”.

 Ewww.

 But not too Ewww.  

Actually, Coool!

After doing a little research, I learned that

 they’re the nymph stage of a Froghopper insect.

They’re actually somewhat of a pest,

 since they eat gardeners’ an farmers’ plants.

 But I still think they’re cool. 

And these were sucking on weeds in the hay fields,

so maybe they were being helpful. 

But those weeds were plantain,

which can be useful.

 (Just not when they’re taking over a hay field.)

 Maybe there is a little lesson here

 that I didn’t see before. 

Even good things in life can be harmful

in the wrong place. 

And sometimes things that seem

not-so-helpful in life can work for good.

"And we know that for those who love God

 all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose."

 Romans 8:28