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Lerps causing leaf coloration

Cardiaspina fiscella

Photo by MartinL
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Sometimes eucalyptus trees have brightly discolored leaves. Under each colored mark is a lerp forming bug seen in pic #2. The pic #4 shows two different aged lerp insects in their sugary prisons.

Habitat:

Scale insect (lerp#13)

Notes:

http://outernode.pir.sa.gov.au/forestry/publications_index/forest_healt…

The name 'lerp' is derived from the aboriginal word 'larp', for the thick encrustations of these insects that were often collected for food.

Species ID Suggestions

brown lace lerp

Cardiaspina fiscella
JanetFarr
1

Comments (14)
Leuba Ridgway
Still think these are great-looking lerps Martin. Good to have an ID -must remember to check on brightly coloured leaves. There seems to be nothing much around at the moment (locally anyway) !
MartinL
So it does. Thanks Janet. http://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/the-essentials/forest-health-pests-and-diseases/Pests/Cardiaspina-fiscella/cardiapina-hyperparasite
JanetFarr
Looks very much like Cardiaspina fiscella Taylor
MartinL
I think these seashell lerps are best represented in Australia so you might need to come for a visit.
ChunXingWong
Bugs taking shelter under "seashells", that is something I have got to spot.
MartinL
Thanks for your comments Karen, Mayra, Daacwen. Some trees are totally covered with colorful (red, orange, yellow) patches on their leaves. Odd for an evergreen. They always have these same shelly lerps on the undersides.
Daacwen
Cool its like a seashell on leaves.
MartinL
Yes I've seen this one argybee. I couldn't get it to sing though.
Mark Ridgway
How did I miss this one ! Good clear pics martin. Here's something interesting. Record their songs to tell which species they are! http://www.psyllids.org/CardiaspinaSOUND.htm
HemaShah
almost looks like a sea shell.
MartinL
The name 'lerp' is derived from the aboriginal word 'larp', for the thick encrustations of these insects that were often collected for food. http://outernode.pir.sa.gov.au/forestry/publications_index/forest_health_information/factSheets/lerps_insects

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Photographed
PublishedFebruary 24, 2012

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