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Project Noah Nature School
Schedotrioza sp.
This damp spring morning the psyllid larvae were emerging from their gall prisons that were opening their walls like flower petals. The nymphs transformed into winged adults to complete their lifecycle, free at last.
These ugly warty galls cover every leaf of (only) this large eucalyptus in a suburban park.
Psyllids are soft bugs and suck sap from plants. Most either induce the plant to grow a protective gall or cover themselves with a waxy or sugary shell (lerp). Others are completely mobile. Here's another species http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/114... Psyllids can be identified by their singing http://www.psyllids.org/SchedotriozaSOUN... http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/forestry/forest...
Spotted on Sep 20, 2012
Submitted on Sep 20, 2012
16 Comments
Thanks Jemma. This is one of my favorite spottings.
Amazing!!
Stranger than fiction =)
Martin, I just had a look at that link re the frogs - unbelievable!!!!!!!!!
Thanks arlanda. I seldom see adults of these soft bugs (that cause lerps and galls) but they seem to be all out at the moment, early spring. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/145...
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/880...
Great series martinl
Thank you Leuba. I think these larvae produce a chemical to soften and open their chambers and synchronize their emergence.
@Argy Bee, if this is an eruption then its like larvae lava =)
Thank you Yasser for your kind comments. It's way more inspiring to share wildlife observations with interested people than 'bugging' the family all the time. =)
Congratulations on your 500th spotting Martin ! and all great quality too... love this spotting. Pic #1 looks like bread& butter pudding !
Incredible series Martin! What a way to celebrate your 500th spotting. Congratulations and thanks for all the fantastic contributions. We're lucky to have you as part of the community!
Thanks Argybee
Thanks Nuwan
great spotting martin, congratulations on your milestone !!
Congrats on 500 martin!! That's quite a spectacular eruption.
Thanks leanne and shanna.
Its good to get the whole lifecycle identified.
shanna, it makes me think of the frog that broods its young in its skin.
http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/biodiversit...
Cool!
Awesome. Looks like something out of a horror movie.