Cacopsylla pyri

Pear psylla

Pear sucker Cacopsylla pyri damage on leaves
Pear sucker Cacopsylla pyri damage on leaves

General

The pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyri, is a widely distributed pest of pear in central Europe and can inflict serious damage in pear orchards.

Life cycle and appearance of Pear psylla

Adults pear psyllas are 2-3 mm long and orange red to blackish. They have white, longitudinal stripes on the back of the thorax. Their forewings are clear with dark veins. The eggs are oval, approximately 0.3 mm long and yellowish orange in colour. The nymphs are initially yellowish with clearly visible purplish-red eyes. Later instars are purplish to reddish brown with whitish longitudinal stripes and blackish markings on the head and body.

Pear psyllas overwinter as adults, sheltering on the bark of pear trees. The adults become active in spring and start to feed on young leaves and flowers. Eggs are deposited in crevices of the bark of twigs and hatch after about 3 weeks. There are 5 nymphal instars which feed on twigs and shoots. Depending on the temperature, there are 3 or more generations per year. Overwintering adults are produced in November or December.

How to get rid of Pear psylla