Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
35
DAMAGE
Infested plants are contaminated by wax, sticky
honeydew and sooty moulds. Infested leaves and shoots
are discoloured and distorted, and the pest also causes
premature leaf fall and dieback.
NOTE
Other species of
Acizzia
have been accidentally
introduced into Europe. These include
A. acaciaebaileyanae
and
A. jamatonica
. The former is
an Australian species, associated with cootamundra
wattle (
Acacia baileyana
), but not considered a
damaging pest. The latter is an Asian pest of Persian
silk tree (
Albizia julibrissin
), causing extensive
discoloration of foliage and premature leaf fall. It has
been reported from various parts of mainland Europe
(including Croatia, France, Italy, Slovenia and
Switzerland), and is a particular threat to hosts being
raised in nurseries or planted as amenity shade trees.
35
Box sucker (
Cacopsylla buxi
) alongside cast skin of
final-instar nymph.
36
Cacopsylla buxi
(Linnaeus) (
35-37
)
syn.
Psylla bux
i (Linnaeus)
Box sucker
An often abundant pest of common box (
Buxus
sempervirens
). Present throughout Europe; introduced
into North America.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
fore wings 2.9-3.7 mm long and shiny, with
brownish-yellow veins; body light green to yellowish
green.
Nymph:
mainly yellowish green to light green;
tips of antennae blackish; eyes pale purplish white.
36
Nymph of box sucker (
Cacopsylla buxi
).
37
LIFE HISTORY
There is a single generation each year, with
overwintering eggs on the shoots hatching in the spring
at about bud-burst. Nymphs then feed on the growing
points, sheltered by a loose cabbage-like cluster of
cupped terminal leaves which develops around them;
these galls are very noticeable, and each measures
about 10-20 mm across. One or a few individuals occur
within each gall, the nymphs passing through five
instars and becoming fully grown within about six
weeks. The nymphs produce conspicuous white waxen
threads and considerable quantities of honeydew, the
latter often spreading over infested foliage. Although
adults appear from late April, May or June onwards,
mating and egg laying do not occur until the late
summer.
37
Gall of box sucker (
Cacopsylla buxi
) on
Buxus
sempervirens
.
shoots; they also spoil the appearance of hedges. Plants
are also disfigured by sticky masses of honeydew and
sooty moulds. Although most damage is caused to the
shoot tips, nymphal feeding may extend to expanded
leaves lower down the twigs, these then becoming
blistered, pallid and distorted.
DAMAGE
Galls, which remain on bushes long after the causal
insects have disappeared, check the growth of new
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