Have you ever been on a walk and noticed the foam-like substance that lays on top of some plants, looking extremely out of place? The first time I ever witnessed this, I genuinely thought that somebody washed their car and the suds just landed in the woods. The second time I saw the suds in a different part of Maine, I realized that this "soap" must have a scientific explanation behind it, and had to find out.

Well, the answer lies in a creature called the spittlebug, and it's very dangerous for your plants and trees. According to maine.gov, there's two species in the spittlebug family, both considered "serious pests" in Maine. The first species is the pine spittlebug, while the second is the Saratoga spittlebug. Oh, and the foamy-looking cocoon you're seeing is their "spittle". The more you know.

Here's how the bug survives in a house full of bubbles:

Maine.gov explains:

There are many species of spittlebugs that feed on conifers and broad-leaved ornamentals. Heavy infestations cause flagging branches, dead terminal growth, and stunted and distorted stems and branches, and will kill trees in two to three years.

7 Invasive Insect Species That Can Damage Crops and Other Plants in New Hampshire

In an effort to inform the public on the types of invasive species that are known to be found in their state, the USDA offers a handy dandy "Pest Tracker". This allows you to simply click the name of your state from the drop-down menu provided to see pictures of the different insects and weeds, along with descriptions of the type of plant life they target and the damage they can do if they're not dealt with.

Gallery Credit: Kira

Maine's Most Beautiful Insect is the Hummingbird Moth

The Hummingbird Moth is classified as an insect but is as beautiful as a delicate bird.

Gallery Credit: Cindy Campbell

More From 92 Moose