Psyllids

Psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

Psyllids Control

Psyllids are small insects that suck plant juices. They are sometimes called jumping plantlice and resemble very small cicadas. There are over 160 species of psyllid and they occur and damage native plants as well as introduced species of plants.

Their feeding can produce galls – abnormal growths – at plant terminals and on foliage. The galls don't generally kill a healthy plant but they can stunt growth and reduce plant vigor. One of the problems that some psyllid populations pose is the transmission of non-native diseases when they pierce the plant. Citrus Greening aka Huanglongbing is a fatal disease to citrus that is carried by the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Additionally, psyllids produce large amounts of honeydew which provides a favorable condition for sooty mold and other fungal pathogens to propagate and grow.

Symptoms of a psyllid infestation include: discoloration of leaves, base of leaves curling upwards, and production yield is lower than usual. Most psyllid damage is cosmetic but it is good to monitor for them using Yellow Sticky Traps. The traps also reduce the pests' reproductive capacity, helping to control populations. When monitoring, be sure to make an identification and beware of the few psyllids that may cause fatal damage.

See the trap, monitor and control products below. For more information on control of psyllids, please see our True Bugs page.