Psylloids

Psylloidea

Psylloids, also known as jumping plant lice, are tiny insects that love to hop around on plants. They can be found in many gardens and fields, where they feed on plant sap.

Lebensraum: Gardens and fields

Aussehen

The Psylloids is a tiny insect with a stout body, often green, yellow, or brown, blending with plants. It has two pairs of clear, membranous wings usually held roof-like over its back, and prominent eyes. They are distinct from aphids by their strong jumping legs.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungHemipteraFamilieTriozidaeGattungPsylla

Psylloids

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Baby psyllids, called nymphs, have tiny wing buds and look very different from adults!

Many psyllids produce a sweet, sticky liquid called honeydew that ants love!

Some psyllid species can make plants grow strange, bumpy homes called galls!

Sometimes, a whole plant leaf can become covered in the waxy fluff made by psyllids!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Psylloids can launch themselves high with powerful hind legs because of strong muscles, helping them escape predators quickly.

Psylloids produce sugary honeydew, a sticky liquid, that helps them excrete excess plant sap they consume.

Many Psylloids have body colors matching their host plants, which helps them hide from hungry birds and other predators.

Psylloids have specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts that help them feed directly on the nutritious sap inside plant tissues.

Maße und Details

Flügelspannweite: 4-10 mm
Größe: 2-5 mm
Lebenserwartung: 30-120 Tage
Anzahl der Beine: 6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Tiny sap-suckers that drink sugary juice from plant leaves and stems.

Hauptnahrung

Plant sap
Citrus tree sap
Eucalyptus sap
Pear tree sap
Apple tree sap

Nahrungssuche

Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

depends on

Sweet Orange

Citrus sinensis

Psyllids feed on the sap of citrus trees, often causing damage.

eats

Convergent Lady Beetle

Hippodamia convergens

Lady beetle larvae and adults prey on psyllid nymphs, helping control populations.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

Birds like the Great Tit consume psyllids as part of their insect diet.

parasitizes

Asian Citrus Psyllid Parasitoid

Tamarixia radiata

This tiny wasp lays eggs inside psyllid nymphs, killing them.

Merkmale

Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger leben den größten Teil ihres Lebens allein und interagieren mit Artgenossen nur zur Paarung oder zur Aufzucht der Jungen.

Farbenfroh

Farbenfroh beschreibt Organismen oder Objekte, die eine große Vielfalt an leuchtenden und deutlich erkennbaren Farben aufweisen.

Getarnt

Getarnt beschreibt Organismen, die über eine Färbung oder Musterung verfügen, durch die sie mit ihrer Umgebung verschmelzen.

Grasland

Grasland-Lebensräume sind terrestrische Biome, die von Gräsern und krautigen Pflanzen dominiert werden und einer Vielzahl von Weidetieren als Lebensraum dienen.