Pest profile

Redgum Lerp Psyllid

Glycaspis brimblecombei · Hemiptera: Aphalaridae[2]

White waxy caps on red gum eucalyptus leaves, with sticky honeydew below, are the work of the redgum lerp psyllid.[1]

Adult redgum lerp psyllid, a small light green winged insect, next to white waxy lerp caps on a eucalyptus leaf
Adult redgum lerp psyllid, a small light green winged insect, next to white waxy lerp caps on a eucalyptus leaf. (c) Mike Bowie, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Nymphs live under white, hemispherical waxy caps (lerps) 1/25 to 1/6 inch across that can darken with age or sooty mold.[1]
  • Adults are about 1/6 inch long, light green to yellow with brown marks and long forward head projections.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Armored scalesLerps on leaves resemble armored scales.[1]

Where it lives

Native to Australia, it was found in Los Angeles in 1998 and now occurs throughout California; it also occurs in the eastern U.S.[1]

US map: public records from 3 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

It infests over two dozen eucalyptus species but prefers river red gum; flooded gum and forest red gum are also heavily infested.[1]

Nymphs grow through five instars, enlarging or replacing their lerps.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Heavy infestations drop leaves early and weaken trees, while honeydew and sooty mold foul surfaces below.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on eucalyptus; UC IPM mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Prevention

Plant less susceptible eucalyptus species and provide good care, since stress worsens damage.[1]

Biological control

The introduced wasp Psyllaephagus bliteus gives good control on the coast, less in hot inland areas.[1]

Common questions

What are the white bumps on my eucalyptus leaves?
Likely redgum lerp psyllid lerps, waxy caps that cover feeding nymphs.[1]
Why is my car sticky under the eucalyptus?
Psyllids excrete honeydew that drips onto surfaces below.[1]

Sources

  1. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Pest Notes: Eucalyptus Redgum Lerp Psyllid (Publication 7460).” ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7460.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Glycaspis brimblecombei taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/155373 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.