Spotted gum lerp (lerp#2) (Eucalyptolyma maideni)

+ vote

Comments (33)

http://www.bowerbird.org.au/observations/41661

Here is a good link to this species http://acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/Spotted.htm

Thanks mayra, this was hard to identify.

MayraSpringmann

Incredible!

Yes, Leuba and Argybee I did notice the pairing and I have the same question. I would consider if they are male female pairs but I don't really know. I want to collect one about to mature so as to photograph the adult but haven't got back yet. I've never found such a concentration as this one on Durham Rd.

It could be just the logical result of the 'real-estate' selection process.

Leuba Ridgway

I just noticed that they are in pairs - intriguing - do you know why they do this, Martin ? they seem to line up with the veins for obvious reasons but why pair-up. I like pic #5 dissolving lerp- nice shot !

Ismael Chaves

Incredible spotting

After the lerp party is over who cleans up?.... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9044445

Interesting Emma, I hadn't noticed that they are often in pairs as in pic#4

HemaShah

match maker ,matchmaker ......make me a match Song from" Fiddler On The Roof'

In that case, maybe you should hook up, I think you'd make a lovely couple ;0)

no way craig... I mean just look at her

Leuba Ridgway

we don't think we look alike.....

Here is the winged adult - I'll have to go and find one now. http://cmallorylife.blogspot.com.au/2010/01/eucalyptolyma-maideni-spotted-gum-lerp.html

Brilliant! btw Looking at your avatars, are you related Argybee & Leuba?!

Leuba Ridgway

fascinating ! I like the little green nymph..

Good one. That's satisfying.

Hey, I've found the ID! http://bugguide.net/node/view/255639 an http://bugguide.net/node/view/255636

Thanks Martin. They are fascinating and amazing creatures. It's going to make that nasty squish harder to perform when they're chowing down on something precious :(

Yes Craig. These guys have a gland similar to spiders and caterpillars which produce silk. This gland produces waxy protein substance that expands and hardens in air.

Well done Martin! Is it known how these lerps make their scale?

The mystery is solved. I've located the tenant and it is a green scale insect (lerp) as seen in these newly uploaded pics =) It looks like Glycaspis but its scale is very different http://www.flickr.com/photos/66925960@N08/6151776900/in/set-72157627717316074/

Little Rex

It looks so cool!

just wondering if it's sugary like the manna lerps manna

You mean I've got to eat it now... lucky the bug has gone.

(... I've got a good recipe )

Did you taste the stuff for sweetness martin?

I've overturned some this morning and found them to be empty - check pic #3. This doesn't surprise me. The larval stages of some leaf hoppers make a tube that they extend as they grow and I suspect this is similar.

I've never seen an insect anything like it, but then I'm only familiar with scale insects I've found as greenhouse and garden pests in the UK & those in your spottings. I used the term scale in the above comment in a very unqualified colloquial fashion. I hope you can get an ID. For it to be in a public park, I'd expect them to a known pest. Worth asking the staff there maybe? Did you get a look at what was under the architecture?

Craig, do you know what this is? I cannot find an image that looks anything like this.