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Basket lerp

Cardiaspina sp.

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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-37.8968, 145.315

Field Notes

Description:

About 4mm across this delicate 'shell shaped' structure is home to a psyllid nymph.

Habitat:

Eucalyptus leaves in sports park.

Notes:

"..the nymphs can neither jump nor fly so many Australian species find protection under a cover they produce from their own secretion of honeydew, a carbohydrate-rich liquid that hardens on contact with air.
These ‘lerps’ find exquisite shapes and forms, sometimes resembling miniature cockleshells, or with wispy white threads. " - Kim Pullen - news at CSIRO

also at http://www.psyllids.org/CardiaspinaSOUND.htm

Reference Links:

Cardiaspina textrix - Overview, Cardiaspina textrix - Wikipedia, Insect of the week – Delicate basketwork can mean trouble for gum trees |…

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
StephenSolomons
I always try and double check BI with another source. They have taken on an immense challenge, bound to be a few wrong. Exquisite little thing!
Mark Ridgway
I think BI has some wrong. I'm going with the descriptions at the SA gov. site. http://outernode.pir.sa.gov.au/forestry/forest_health/forest_health_fact_sheets/factSheets/lerps_insects
Mark Ridgway
Hi Martin.. you don't like the CSIRO reference? I think the 'basket' weave is key... ie. warp AND weft. That third link of yours has this on the same page (Cardiaspina sp)
MartinL
This is an attractive lerp but the psyllid has probably grown up and departed already as it seems to be empty. I saw a similar one with less texture and gave it a different genus based on Brisbaneinsects http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_softbugs/Hyalinaspis.htm but I cannot find a convincing one for yours. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8778744 http://www.psyllids.org/CardiaspinaSOUND.htm

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Nests, hives, bowers, webs & other animal architecture

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Photographed
PublishedApril 5, 2013

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