Order: Hemiptera (TrueBugs)Family: Psyllidae, TriozidaeCommon Names: Plant Lice, Jumping Plant Lice, Lerps, Lerp Psyllid, Gall Psyllid, Lilly Pilly Psyllid
Psyllids are tiny sap-sucking insects that feed on the nutrient rich liquids inside leaves and transport tissues (xylem & phloem). Most species of psyllid will only feed on one specific host plant, however some species are known to broaden their preferences to plant varieties within the same family.
The vibrant purple berries and graceful arching branches of the American beautyberry shrub make it a gorgeous addition to any garden. However, like any plant, it can fall victim to pesky insects and other pests. One such pest is the lerp – a small, sap-sucking insect that covers itself in a protective, bump-like coating while it feeds on plant sap. An infestation of lerps can negatively impact the health and appearance of your beautyberry shrub. If you’ve noticed these bothersome bugs on your plant, don’t panic! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through several highly effective methods for getting rid of lerps on your American beautyberry shrub.
What are Lerps?
Before diving into removal methods, let’s take a quick look at exactly what lerps are. Lerps belong to the insect order Hemiptera, which includes cicadas, aphids, and other sap-sucking bugs. The lerp insect uses its straw-like mouth to pierce plant tissue and feed on sap As it feeds, it secretes a waxy, protective covering over itself called a “lerp” This helps shield the vulnerable insect from predators and environmental factors.
Lerp infestations often first become apparent when you notice bumpy white or brown spots on the leaves and stems of your shrub. While not initially fatal to the plant, lerps can weaken the shrub over time making it more prone to secondary issues like mold growth. Their presence also simply doesn’t look very nice! The good news is with persistent effort, you can conquer a lerp infestation.
Remove Lerps Manually
One of the simplest and most effective ways to get rid of lerps on your American beautyberry is to remove them manually. Get up close and personal with the affected parts of your shrub and gently scrape off any lerps you spot with your fingers or a soft bristled brush Make sure to check both sides of leaves and all along the stems. Monitor the shrub closely in the days following manual removal to spot any lerps you may have initially missed.
When scraping off lerps, be careful not to damage the plant tissue itself. Work slowly and methodically. Dispose of any collected lerps far away from your shrub to prevent reinfestation. Repeated manual removal can help bring lerp populations down to a manageable level when infestations are limited to just a few branches.
Prune Heavily Infested Areas
For more widespread lerp infestations, pruning may be necessary. Use sterilized, sharp pruning shears to remove heavily infested branches and leaves. Cut at least an inch below where lerps are visible to ensure you remove all of them. As you prune, keep an eye out for branches or leaves that could be salvaged through more thorough manual lerp removal.
After cutting away infested plant material, ensure you sanitize your pruning shear blades before making each new cut. This prevents accidentally spreading lerps or diseases from one area of the shrub to another. Proper sanitation is crucial! Dispose of infested trimmings in sealed bags.
Apply Horticultural Oil
Horticultural oils provide an organic lerp treatment option. These oils work by coating the bugs and disrupting their protective coverings. Without their lerps, the insects become vulnerable and perish. Horticultural oils also form a temporary suffocating barrier that can deter additional lerp populations from taking up residence on your shrub.
Always carefully follow label instructions when applying horticultural oils. Test on a small leaf section first to ensure the oil won’t damage your beautyberry’s foliage and stems. Spray down all infested areas thoroughly, including the undersides of leaves, taking care to avoid pollinators. Horticultural oils are safe for many beneficial garden insects when used properly. Reapply weekly until lerps have been eliminated.
Encourage Natural Predators
Another eco-friendly route is encouraging natural predators to take care of your lerp problem for you. Lacewings, ladybugs, birds, and other beneficial insects feed on lerps. Plant nectar-rich flowers near your shrub to attract these predators. You can also purchase ladybugs and lacewings from garden supply stores and release them around your American beautyberry when you first notice an infestation. They’ll happily get to work feasting on the lerps.
Apply Neem Oil
Extracted from the seeds of the neem tree, neem oil is another organic lerp treatment. It is safe for people, pets, and beneficial insects, but lethal to sap-sucking bugs like lerps. Neem oil disrupts lerp feeding, growth, and reproduction. For best results, spray infested shrubs thoroughly with neem oil twice per week. As with any garden product, carefully follow the label directions for proper dilution and application.
Maintain Plant Health and Vigor
A vital component of lerp prevention is cultivating a strong, healthy American beautyberry shrub. Shrubs weakened by inadequate sunlight, poor nutrient levels, or drought stress become more vulnerable to lerp attacks. Follow best practices for planting, fertilizing, watering, and pruning your beautyberry. Address any existing issues like diseases, mold, or damaged roots to get your shrub thriving.
Monitor Shrub Closely
When dealing with a lerp infestation, consistency is key. Monitor your American beautyberry closely, even after treatment, to detect and manually remove any lingering lerps you might have missed. Keep an eye out for tiny nymphs that may hatch from any remaining eggs. Catching infestations early before they escalate is crucial. Be thorough and don’t let your guard down!
When to Seek Professional Help
In severe lerp infestation cases that persist despite your best at-home treatment efforts, it may be wise to consult a professional arborist or horticulturist. They can assess the situation hands-on and help develop a tailored treatment plan based on your shrub’s specific needs. Sometimes pesticides are warranted if non-chemical methods have proven ineffective. Let experienced experts advise you on all available options.
Key Takeaways for Lerp Removal
- Inspect shrub closely and manually remove lerps using fingers or soft brush
- Prune away heavily infested branches
- Apply horticultural oils regularly as an organic treatment
- Encourage beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs
- Use neem oil sprays to deter lerps and disrupt their life cycle
- Promote plant health through proper care and maintenance
- Monitor shrub diligently even after treatment
- Seek professional advice for severe infestations when needed
With persistence and commitment to monitoring and treatment, you can successfully restore the health, beauty, and vibrance of your beloved American beautyberry shrub. Don’t resign yourself to letting lerps destroy the grace and charm this plant adds to your garden. Employ these proven tactics today to get your infestation under control. Your efforts will be rewarded with a gorgeous lerp-free beautyberry you can enjoy for years to come. Best of luck defeating those pesky lerps!
What do Psyllids look like?
Psyllids have 3 life-cycle stages: egg, nymph and adult. Most species will go through 3 to 5 generations per year.
Adults look like a tiny, winged insect approximately 2-3mm in length, the wings pointing back over the abdomen in a V shape.
Nymphs are usually a miniature version of the adult form but without wings, more scaly and can look flattish. Some species hide under what is a called a ‘Lerp’, which is a little white, sugary covering that shields the nymph whilst it feeds and molts. Others cause pits or galls in the leaves.
Eggs are found singly or in clusters, sometimes found upon the leaf and its edges, other species insert the eggs into the leaf tissue.
What are the signs that you have Psyllids
We have 100s of species of psyllids in Australia. The most common species are the Lilly Pilly Psyllid, Lerp forming Psyllid, Gall forming Psyllid and Free Living Psyllid. These are all mostly found on our native plants and are most noticeable during the nymph stages.
These psyllids are often visible on the new growth of the plant. After they hatch, the nymph crawls into position on a young leaf to begin feeding and molting. After the first molt a pock mark or small pit appears on the leaf. As it grows and continues to molt, this pit becomes bigger, looking like a pimple on the leaf of the plant. The adult emerges after the final molt and the whole cycle begins again! Waterhousia floribunda is a particularly juicy variety to the Lilly Pilly Psyllid and often gets attacked.
Damage
Cosmetic damage to the leaves, causing the leaves to curl and pimple. Severe infestation can cause some leaf drop and stunt growth but it is rare that it will kill the plant.
Often seen on natives such as Eucalyptus, the nymphs will burrow into the leaf, causing a gall to form around it as protection. Once the nymph has reached maturity, it breaks out of the gall as an adult.
Damage
Only cosmetic, overall never getting so bad as to kill the tree.
These psyllids excrete a white, sugary substance to cover themselves as protection whilst they feed on the leaf of the plant. This is called a lerp. The lerp gets bigger as the nymph molts, finally emerging as an adult. Lerps are eaten by many animals such as birds, possums, flying foxes and gliders. They can even be eaten by humans as a sweet treat!
Damage
Light infestations cause a mottled appearance on the leaves, whereas a severe infestation can cause the tree to defoliate, affecting its growth and appearance. In some cases it can cause the tree to die.
Free-living psyllids are just that, free living! They feed on the new growth of the plant and create no protective cover like the previous psyllid types. Both the adult and nymphs are seen on the plant at the same time. They tend to target a lot of natives such as grevillea, wattles and eucalypts as well as ornamental plants such as Smoke Bush.
Damage
Can produce Sooty Mold and other waxy secretions, often deforming new growth with bad infestations.
How to Prune Beautyberry
FAQ
How to get rid of lerps?
How to get rid of psyllids naturally?
What is eating my Beautyberry bush?
How to get rid of blackberry psyllid?
Are beautyberry bushes low maintenance?
Callicarpa americana, the American beautyberry shrub, is a delightful plant that will reward you with stunning purple berries that last through the fall and winter. If you are growing beautyberry bushes in their native region, these plants are low-maintenance.
How do you grow American beautyberries?
Keep them protected for the first year, and plant them outdoors the following winter. Plant American beautyberries in a location with light shade and well-drained soil. If the soil is very poor, mix some compost with the fill dirt when you backfill the hole. Otherwise, wait until the following spring to feed the plant for the first time.
How do you care for a beautyberry plant?
Water well when young. No need to fertilize. In warmer areas, this shrub may be pruned back in late winter to about two feet less than the desired size. Beautyberry is drought-tolerant once established, though it performs better with more hydration. And as we mentioned above, if you plant it in full sun, you’ll need to really dump the water on it.
When should a beautyberry be pruned?
It’s best to prune American beautyberry shrubs in late winter or very early spring. There are two methods of pruning. The simplest is to cut the entire shrub back to 6 inches (15 cm.) above the ground. It grows back with a neat, rounded shape. This method keeps the shrub small and compact.