First record of the redgum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei, a new exotic pest
of Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Southern Italy 

Stefania Laudonia & Antonio Pietro Garonna (February 2011)

DEZA Dipartimento di Entomologia e Zoologia agraria “Filippo Silvestri”  – Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II - Italy

In June 2010, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, the red gum lerp psyllid (Homoptera: Psyllidae), was detected in Italy on Eucalyptus camaldulensis in urban and rural landscapes of the Campania region (Southern Italy) (Laudonia & Garonna, 2010). Preliminary observations on general biological aspects and distribution showed that the pest has already spread in neighbouring Lazio and Basilicata regions. This alien species was first added to the EPPO Alert List in 2002, but deleted in 2006 (the alert had been given for 3 years and no further action was taken). During these years G. brimblecombei has been introduced from Australia into North America and subsequently in several countries of South America, where it became a serious pest of E. camaldulensis trees. Heavy infestations led to defoliation, branch dieback and occasionally tree death. In 2009 the species was reported for the first time in Europe, from Portugal and Spain, where it was collected in late 2007 (Valente & Hodkinson, 2009).  New records from Spain were added during 2009 (Borrajo et al., 2009; Prieto-Lillo et al., 2009; Peris-Felipo et al., 2009). The origin of this new introduced population is unknown and at present the psyllid is established in large parts of Southern Italy. The generalist predator, Anthocoris nemoralis Fabricius (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) was observed on infested trees preying on G. brimblecombei, but until now no parasitoids were detected.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves infested by Glycaspis brimblecombei

First-instar and early stages of formation of the lerp

Glycaspis brimblecombei: Male

Anthocoris nemoralis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) preying on G. brimblecombei

Eggs of Glycaspis brimblecombei

Glycaspis brimblecombei: different stages

Glycaspis brimblecombei: female

All pictures were kindly provided by Mr Bruno Espinosa 

(DEZA, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", IT)

References

Borrajo P, Lopez G, Ruiz F (2009) [First report of the occurrence of Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Homoptera, Psyllidae) in SW of Spain]. Boletin de Sanidad Vegetal Plagas 35(3), 355-361 (in Spanish).

Laudonia S, Garonna AP (2010) The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei, a new exotic pest of Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Italy.  Bulletin of Insectology 63(2), 233-236.

Peris-Felipo FJ, Bernues-Baneres A, Perez-Laorga Arias E, Jimenez-Peydro R (2009) [New data about the Spanish's distribution of Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, 1964 (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a pest of Eucalyptus camaldulensis]. Boletin de la Asociacion Espanola de Entomologia 33(3/4), 517-526 (in Spanish).

Prieto-Lillo E, Rueda J, Hernandez R, Sefla J (2009) [First record of red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei (Homoptera: Psyllidae) in the Comunidad Valenciana]. Boletin de Sanidad Vegetal Plagas 35(2), 277-281.

Valente C, Hodkinson I (2009) First record of the redgum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hem.: Psyllidae), in Europe. Journal of Applied Entomology 133(4), 315-317