Red Gum Lerp Psyllid
The red gum lerp psyllid is a relatively recent pest of several species of Eucalyptus, notably red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) on campus. The young psyllids hide under a sugary 'lerp' or dome as they feed on plant juices, while the adults feed openly and fly to neighboring trees as their population grows. Infested trees can become completely defoliated. Don Dahlsten at U.C.Berkeley, in conjunction with the California Department of Agriculture, is coordinating releases of a beneficial wasp that parasitizes the psyllids. Both pest and parasite are introductions from Australia, where eucalyptus is native. More information is available at the web site for University of California at Berkeley's Pest Management Program.