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.
Armenian grape hyacinths are beautiful spring blooming flowers that can brighten up any garden with their charm. However, these delicate flowers are prone to lerps infestation which can damage their health and appearance. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through how to identify prevent and get rid of lerps on armenian grape hyacinths, using organic methods.
What are Lerps?
Lerps are tiny sap-sucking insects that can infest ornamental plants like hyacinths. They produce a protective waxy covering over their bodies, forming a shield-like structure that camouflages them Lerps typically gather on the underside of leaves and stems.
While hard to spot due to their excellent camouflage, lerps can be identified through the damage they cause. Signs of lerp infestation include
- Discolored, yellowing or distorted leaves
- Drooping or wilting foliage
- Sticky honeydew residue on leaves
- Presence of white or brown specks on underside of leaves
If these symptoms are spotted, inspect the leaves thoroughly to confirm the presence of lerps. Look for small bumps or specks covered by a waxy coating. Timely identification is crucial to save hyacinths from extensive damage.
Organic Methods to Get Rid of Lerps
Getting rid of lerps through natural methods is ideal to keep your garden eco-friendly. Here are some effective organic remedies:
Prune Infested Areas
Pruning off visibly infested leaves, stems and flowers reduces the lerps population. It also prevents the infestation from spreading. Remove and discard the infested parts far away from the garden. Sterilize your pruning tools before use on healthy sections.
Manual Removal
Gently wipe or scrape off lerps from leaves and stems using a soft cloth or brush. Check both upper and lower sides thoroughly. Ensure no lerps remain on the plant. Repeat every few days until the infestation clears.
Attract Natural Predators
Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings and hoverflies which prey on lerps. Plant nectar-rich flowers like cosmos, dill and parsley to attract them. You can also buy these predators and release them near infested hyacinths.
Apply Neem Oil
Neem oil disrupts the growth and feeding of lerps. Mix a few drops of pure neem oil with water as per instructions. Shake well and spray onto hyacinths, especially the undersides of leaves. Reapply every 7-10 days until lerps are gone.
Use Horticultural Oils
Light horticultural oils like canola oil suffocate lerps by blocking their breathing pores. Mix oil with water according to product instructions and thoroughly spray plants. Ensure complete coverage, including leaf undersides.
Use DIY Sprays
Homemade sprays using ingredients like garlic, onion, chili pepper and soap effectively deter lerps. Blend the ingredients with water, strain and apply the solution onto the plants. Reapply these sprays every few days.
Preventive Measures Against Lerps
Alongside treatment, certain measures can be taken to prevent lerp infestations in the first place:
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Monitor plants routinely to detect lerps early before they multiply.
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Maintain optimal growing conditions for hyacinths, including proper sunlight, water and well-draining soil.
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Apply organic mulch around plants to retain moisture and promote soil health.
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Intercrop with pest-repellent plants like marigolds, garlic and chives.
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Remove weeds and overgrowth to eliminate alternative hosts.
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Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization which encourages lerps.
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Sterilize garden tools to prevent spreading infestations.
Lerps can damage the appearance and health of Armenian grape hyacinths but can be effectively controlled through integrated organic methods. Timely identification, pruning of infested parts, manual removal and applying natural sprays allows you to get rid of lerps safely. Additionally, promoting plant vigor through optimal care and growing conditions makes them more resilient to lerps. Implementing these organic solutions along with preventive strategies will help you enjoy lush, thriving grape hyacinth flowers.
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.
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.
Grape Hyacinth Planting and Care Tips Video
FAQ
How to control grape hyacinths?
Should grape hyacinths be deadheaded?
How do you control grape hyacinth?
One way to control grape hyacinth is by hand weeding. This method involves manually removing the bulbs from the soil using a trowel or small shovel. Hand weeding is most effective when done during the fall season after flowering has ended but before new growth begins in early spring. When hand-weeding:
How long does it take to get rid of grape hyacinth?
Complete elimination may take years. The first step to get rid of grape hyacinth is to remove seed scapes after the flower petals have fallen. Although it takes at least four years for the little seedlings to form flowers, the seeds will eventually restart the hyacinth take over.
Is grape hyacinth invasive?
Grape hyacinth is a beautiful plant that produces small, delicate flowers in shades of blue and purple. Despite its beauty, grape hyacinth can quickly become an invasive species if left unchecked. Gardeners who have struggled to control this plant know the challenge of removing it from their lawns or gardens.
What is a grape hyacinth?
Grape hyacinth ( Muscari armeniacum) is a mid-spring blooming, perennial bulb in the Lily Family (Liliaceae) native to southeastern Europe. It is not a true hyacinth (genus Hyacinthus ). The name of the genus, Muscari, comes from the Greek word for musk, referring to the scent produced by the flowers of many species in the genus.