The leaf fleas got their name because of their excellent jumping ability. Psyllina, as it is scientifically called, grows between two and five millimeters in size and appears from early spring to late autumn.

Shoots affected by the boxwood flea should be removed as soon as possible

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Greenish-yellow, quite broad and flattened larvae - often with bizarre, hair-like edges made of wax threads - suck on the upper and lower side of the leaves, but also on buds and young shoots. They are usually surrounded by white waxy wool. Their larvae, in particular, damage the plants by sucking them, causing the leaves to turn brown at first, only to later wither and deform. Black sooty fungi like to settle on the droppings. The injured sucking sites also serve as an entry point for pathogens, some of which are even transmitted by the leaf fleas themselves.

Fleas protect themselves with wax wool

Fleas surround themselves with waxy wool, which protects the animals from their natural enemies: gall midges, parasitic hymenoptera that lay their eggs in the larvae of the fleas, predatory bugs, ladybirds and spiders. In addition, the wax wool also protects the pests from their own excretions, which are sweet and sticky like honeydew.

Adult psyllids overwinter in the ground

Fleas are reminiscent of cicadas because of their transparent wings, which are folded over their backs in a roof-like shape when they are at rest. However, they are not related to these, rather both species belong to the group of plant lice. The adult fleas overwinter in sheltered places in the ground or in the bark of the boxwood. In the spring, the females lay tiny little eggs on the leaves, shoots and buds of the host plant, preferably in windless and humid places. After hatching, which occurs around the end of March, the larvae begin injurious sucking.

Identify leaf fleas

The boxwood flea usually sits on the underside of the leaves. You can recognize the affected leaves from the bumpy, brightened bulges on the upper side of the leaf. The liquid, sweet excrement - honeydew - drips down onto leaves and rootstock and sticks them together; but it is also important food for bees, flies and ants.

Combat boxwood flea

Protecting and promoting natural enemies is the most effective preventive measure, because they ensure an ecological balance. You should remove infected shoots as soon as possible, as well as the tiny yellow eggs in early spring. In the case of a severe infestation, you can use an oil-based agent against leaf suckers, but you should think twice about such a measure: This will also kill useful insects. In winter, a white coat of paint on the trunk (e.g. on spherical trunks) reduces the sheltered hibernation sites for leaf fleas, but also affects many other small animals such as bugs, which also hibernate there. This requires some judgment on your part.

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In addition to the boxwood leaf flea, there are also numerous other pests on the boxwood, including spider mites, aphids, scale and mealybugs and the dreaded boxwood moth.

Category:

Vegetable garden