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common name: eucalyptus psyllid
scientific name: Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

common name: red gum lerp psyllid
scientific name: Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Introduction - Distribution - Description - Life History - Hosts - Survey and Detection - Key to Psyllids found on Eucalyptus in North America- Selected References

Introduction (Back to Top)

Two psyllids that feed on Eucalyptus were found for the first time in Florida in the spring of 2001 in tourist parks in the Orlando area: Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, the red gum lerp psyllid, and Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor, the eucalyptus psyllid. Both species originate in Australia and already are well established in California, which is the most likely immediate source of the Florida populations.

Distribution (Back to Top)

Both Blastopsylla occidentalis and Glycaspis brimblecombei are native to Australia and occur in California. B. occidentalis has been found in Mexico and New Zealand (Taylor 1985, Hodkinson 1991, Gill 1998, Brennan and Gill 1999). Glycaspis brimblecombei has a wide distribution in East Central Australia and frequently occurs together with other members of the genus (Moore 1975).

Description (Back to Top)

G. brimblecombei and B. occidentalis are the only psyllids known to feed on Eucalyptus in Florida. Infestations of Glycaspis brimblecombei are most easily recognized by the conical white coverings (lerps) secreted by the nymphs. The psyllid nymphs are reddish bronze with darker wing pads that have bright white spots. Adults are yellow to green in color and are winged and highly mobile. The anterior part of the head of the adults has a pair of curious long projections called genae. Blastopsylla occidentalis does not make lerps, but nymphs of these insects do secrete a waxy substance. Adults are smaller than those of G. brimblecombei, and the genae are much shorter.

Nymphs and adult of G. brimblecombei Moore, a psyllid pest of Eucalyptus spp.

Figure 1. Nymphs and adult of G. brimblecombei Moore, a psyllid pest of Eucalyptus spp. Photograph by Jeffrey Lotz, DPI, FDACS.

Adult Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor, a psyllid pest of Eucalyptus spp.

Figure 2. Adult Blastopsylla occidentalis Taylor, a psyllid pest of Eucalyptus spp. Photograph by Raymond Gill, California Department of Agriculture.

Life History (Back to Top)

Both psyllids are obscure species in Australia, and little is known about their life histories. Clark and Dallwitz (1974) published seasonal abundance information about Glycaspis spp. Information on several Glycaspis species was pooled because they were unable to distinguish the nymphs. The main factors regulating the population appeared to be the suitability of host material. The trees have a two-year fruiting cycle, and the stage of that cycle greatly influenced the numbers of Glycaspis.

Other factors affecting abundance included fruit production (unfavorable), damage by leaf beetles (unfavorable), soil moisture (moist conditions favorable), and drought in the previous season (favorable). The psyllids were most abundant in the fall and winter months, and higher temperatures during that time were favorable to Glycaspis abundance. It was noted that Eucalyptus trees in an urban area had higher populations than similar trees in a natural setting. Several reasons were cited, including the fact that the urban trees were irrigated during the hot part of the year. Secondly, the urban trees had sustained heavy damage due to leaf-feeding beetles and consequently had produced little fruit compared with their counterparts in the natural setting.

Glycaspis brimblecombei is more damaging than other eucalyptus psyllids introduced into North America because it can defoliate the trees, and it has a relatively broad host range among Eucalyptus spp. (Brennan and Gill 1999).

Virtually nothing is known about the life history of B. occidentalis. It is reported to damage Eucalyptus in New Zealand (Satchell 1999).

Hosts (Back to Top)

Brennan and Gill (1999) list the following Eucalyptus species as hosts of G. brimblecombei from literature:

E. blakelyi Maiden
E. brassiana Blake
E. bridgesiana Baker
E. camaldulensis Dehnh.
E. camphora Baker
E. dealbata Cunn. Ex Schauer
E. mannifera ssp. Maculosa Baker
E. nitens Deane & Maiden
E. teriticornis Smith.

In California, G. brimblecombei also has been found on: E. diversicolor F. Muell
E. globulus Labill
E. sideroxylon Cunn (Brennan and Gill 1999).

Taylor (1985) lists the following hosts for B. occidentalis in the original description: E. microtheca F. Muell.
E. rudis Endl.
E.gomphocephala DC.
E. camauldulensis Dehnh.
E. ? platypus Hook.
E. oleosa F. Muell.
E. forrestiana Diels.
E. ? microneura Maiden & Blakely
E. nicholii Maiden & Blakely
E. spathulata Hook.

The specimens from E. spathulata came from California. In South America, B. occidentalis is reported from E. urophylla S.T. Blake and hybrids of E. urophylla and E. grandis A.W. Hill ex Maiden.

Survey and Detection (Back to Top)

The easiest way to survey for G. brimblecombei is to examine both old and new leaves for lerps. Frequently, infested trees are obviously dripping with honeydew and old lerps. Survey for B. occidentalis by checking new growth for fuzzy flocculent secretions.

Key to Psyllids Found on Eucalyptus in North America (Back to Top)

The following literature, was used in constructing the key: Burckhardt et al. (1999), Gill (2000), Morgan (1984), Taylor (1985, 1987, 1990), and Tuthill and Taylor (1955).

1. Metacoxae of adults without meracanthi (large spines) . . . . . 2
1'. Metacoxae of adults with meracanthi (Ctenarytaina)(CA) . . . . . 5

2. Genal cones long, 0.8 x length of vertex or longer; forewings apically angulate, lerps present, (CA, FL) . . . . . Glycaspis brimblecombei
2'. Genal cones shorter, less than 0.7 x length of vertex, forewings rounded apically . . . . . 3

3. Proximal (basal) segment of metatarsus with two black spines . . . . . 4
3'. Proximal (basal) segment of metatarsus with one black spine (CA, FL) . . . . . Blastopsylla occidentalis

4. Ratio of metatibia length to metafemur length 1.5 or greater; lerps present (CA) . . . . . Eucalyptolyma maideni
4'. Ratio of metatibia length to metafemur length 1.0 or less, male parameres with a dorsal row of peg-like, black spines along margin (CA) . . . . . Cryptoneossa triangula

5. Male proctiger with a row of simple setae at apex of basal segment, stout spine lacking, dull grey, brown (CA) . . . . . Ct. longicauda
5b. Male proctiger with a stout spine or peg at ventral apices of basal segment . . . . . 6

6. Male proctiger with apical segment elongate, 2/3 or greater the length of basal segment; parameres elongate and broad, each as broad as proctiger in lateral view at widest points; head and thorax dorsally yellowish with brown spots (CA) . . . . . Ct. spatulata
6'. Male proctiger with apical segment 0.5 times or less the length of the basal segment; parameres 2/3 or less the width of the proctiger at widest points; head and thorax dorsally dark brown to black (CA) . . . . . Ct. eucalypti

Selected References (Back to Top)

Authors: Susan E. Halbert, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry; Raymond Gill, California Department of Agriculture; and James N. Nisson, Orange County (California) Agriculture Commissioner's Office
Originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 407.
Photographs: Jeffrey Lotz, DPI, FDACS; and Raymond Gill, California Department of Agriculture
Web Design: Kay Weigel
Publication Number: EENY-306
Publication Date: October 2003. Reviewed: December 2017. Reviewed: May 2021.

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Featured Creatures Editor and Coordinator: Dr. Elena Rhodes, University of Florida