Psyllid

Psyllids, commonly known as jumping plant lice, are small sap-sucking insects in the superfamily Psylloidea (order Hemiptera). Adults are usually 2–5 mm long, soft-bodied, and often winged, with hind legs adapted for jumping. They are frequently host-plant specialists, feeding on phloem sap and sometimes producing protective lerps or causing gall-like growth on the host plant.

Life cycle involves eggs laid on host plants, nymphs that pass through several instars, and winged or wingless adults. Nymphs feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew, which can promote sooty mold. The degree of damage varies by species and host plant; some psyllids induce leaf curling or stunting.

Ecology and economic importance: Psyllids occur worldwide, particularly in warm and temperate regions. Many species are agricultural pests, notably the citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri, which vectors the bacterial pathogen that causes citrus greening disease. Other psyllids transmit pathogens affecting potatoes, grapes, and fruit trees.

Management: Monitoring with traps and visual inspections is common. Cultural controls, resistant plant varieties, and biological control with parasitoid wasps and predators are used in integrated pest management. Chemical control may be necessary in some cases, but resistance and non-target effects are considerations.