8, see text Philaenus is a genus of insects belonging to the family Aphrophoridae, the spittlebugs.

The meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius is a common insect in much of the Northern Hemisphere, and it is sometimes a pest on crops such as alfalfa.

There are sixteen color phenotypes, with individuals taking various dark, pale, mottled, and striped patterns.

Some species specialize on one host plant, the common asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus).

This Hemiptera article related to members of the insect suborder Auchenorrhyncha is a stub.