What is this strange white foamy stuff on my sunflowers?

Question

I have sunflowers that are about 4ft tall and Cosmos flowers planted beneath them and there are bugs crawling on them and the tops of the flowers are covered in some foamy white stuff. Almost looks like spit. I felt it and it was sticky. Around the foam, the petals on the sunflowers are shriveling. Have any idea what it is?

Answer 1

It looks like you have spittle bugs. They are tiny insects with jumping legs like a grasshopper. Usually, not too damaging to plants. You can hose them off and your plants should be fine.

Answer 2

It is called frog spit or cuckoo spit. Wipe some off the plant and carefully wipe the spit away. At the bottom you will find a small green insect nymph called a froghopper. They really look quite cute, but they can cause damage to plants.

Answer 3

That is from the spittle bug.  It is not bad for you or the flower, it just looks disgusting.

Is this what it looks like?  http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/...