Pear psylla

Insect

Pear psylla

Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster

Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psyllidae

Distribution: Widespread and a major pest in most fruit-growing states and provinces in eastern North America.

Photos

Sooty mold grows in the â€œhoneydewâ€ left by motile stages. NY State Ag Experiment Station
D

Adults (A) resemble very small cicadas and can be reddish brown (overwintered generation) or tan to light brown (summer forms). Smaller, wingless nymphs are yellow with red eyes, flat and oval in shape, and develop within a clear honeydew drop (B). Larger "hard shell" nymphs are darker, with black areas interspersed with green or brown coloration (C); these forms have noticeable wing pads and are free-living.

Crops Affected: pears

Damage

Attacks pear exclusively. Motile stages are "flush feeders" that suck sap from newer, tender growth, and secrete excess fluid as honeydew. This collects on leaves and fruits, provides a good medium for sooty mold growth (D). Psylla feeding can kill leaf tissue (called "psylla scorch") in sunny, dry conditions. Excessive feeding and injection of toxic saliva can cause wilting and premature leaf drop.

Management

Spring egg-laying can be suppressed by prebloom oil applications. Diligent hand removal of suckers can greatly reduce psylla populations. A balanced fertilizer program and avoidance of excessive nitrogen greatly reduces flush vegetative growth that attracts psylla. Many predacious insects are natural enemies, but commercial production often requires applications of broad-spectrum insecticides, highly refined summer oil, kaolin clay or insecticidal soap.

Similar Species

The apple sucker (Psylla mali) is closely related, but can be distinguished by its lighter coloration and the fact that it does not occur on pear.