Family: Clastopteridae
Subfamily: None defined in Clastopteridae
Length: about 3-4 mm
Clastoptera proteus ranges from New Brunswick south and west to the Mississippi River. South of the Mason-Dixon line it seems to be largely absent, except in the mountains of West Virginia and Tennessee.
Adults of Clastoptera proteus are active in the summer months. As the common name says, the host plants are Dogwood species.
Left: This colorful Spittlebug had its portrait made in the Canaan Valley, Tucker County, in mid-July.
Another Clastoptera species common in West Virginia is Clastoptera obtusa.
