Psyllid or Lerp insects
Psyllidae family
Family: - Psyllidae
Order: - Hemiptera
Description:
Adult
Colour - Yellow or brown
Body - Up to 4mm. Oval. Flat. Soft.
Wings - Transparent. Wing-span 6mm
Mouthparts - Stylet. Sucking. Near rear of head.
Antennae - Very small. 3-10 segments.
Eyes - 2 Compound.
Legs -Very small. Feet (Tarsi) have 4 segments.
Head - fused to thorax.
Thorax - 3 segments.
Abdomen - Eight pairs of spiracles on underside. Segments ill defined
Egg - brown, ovoid. Less than 0.5mm long.
Habits - Scales are formed on the leaf and the nymph feeds below the scale. These may be of various sizes and shapes.
Nymphs
Usually 5 stages (instars). Look quite different to the adults.
Often orange. They move when the leaf is tapped.
Biology:
Life Cycle:
Eggs hatch to produce nymphs that are active form May to November. Adults appear in summer and lay batches of 50-100 eggs.
Habitats:
Origin and History:
Distribution:
Significance:
Severe defoliation of trees may result from lerp insect attack. The nymphs shelter under the lerp scale and suck sap from the leaf. This often causes a reddening or browning of the leaves.
Death of trees may result after a number of severe attacks.
Management and Control:
Related Species:
Similar Species:
Aphids, various 'bugs', leafhoppers and scales are sometimes confused with Lerps.
References:
WADA. Insects and Allied Pests of Extensive Farming. Department of Agriculture - Western Australia Bulletin No. 4185. p87.
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.