PLEASE NOTE that the survey described below closed in 2017. If you wish to participate in the 2019 survey, please visit the BRIGIT website for more information.

Botanic Garden Conservation International’s (BGCI) International Plant Sentinel Network is promoting a survey to gather data on the host range of spittlebugs (as part of an effort to protect the UK from Xylella fastidiosa).

BGCI’s International Plant Sentinel Network (IPSN) has been asked by Defra to help with some work they are doing into protecting the UK from Xylella fastidiosa. As part of this, they are hoping to collect information on current hosts of spittlebugs which are known to vector the disease.

This is a great public engagement activity, getting visitors to look out for the conspicuous ‘cuckoo spit’ produced by the nymphs. We are not looking for anyone to identify the pest, so it can be open to anyone, and the reason for concentrating on gardens is so that (hopefully) they will be able to find the host name – which is the important part.

This could be:

• Simply reporting to reception
• A table where they fill in host name and date
• Potentially a chalkboard or a white board which can be noted down at the end of a week/day etc.

We are really keen to promote this survey as much as possible, and it will hopefully act as a pilot project for potential future plant health engagement/citizen science  activities.