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.
Lerps are tiny sap-sucking insects that can infest and damage baby sage plants. Identifying them early and taking prompt action is key to protecting your plant. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss how to identify lerps, prevent infestations, and use natural and chemical methods to get rid of lerps on baby sage plants.
What are Lerps?
- Lerps are tiny insects belonging to the Psyllidae family
- They have sucking mouthparts and feed on the fluids from plant tissues
- This feeding damages leaves and stunts plant growth
- Lerps create a waxy protective covering over themselves, making them hard to remove
- The coverings look like small white or brown bumps on leaves
How to Identify Lerps on Baby Sage
- Inspect undersides of leaves for tiny white, scale-like bumps
- Use a magnifying glass to examine leaves closely
- Look for discolored or curled leaves, which can indicate infestation
- Ants may also be present, attracted to the honeydew secreted by lerps
- A heavy infestation can cause leaf drop and stunted growth
Preventing Lerp Infestations
Stopping lerps before they become a major issue is ideal. Here are some key prevention tips
- Inspect plants frequently for early signs
- Remove and destroy any infested leaves immediately
- Keep garden areas clean and weed-free
- Avoid overwatering or fertilizing, which encourages lerps
- Use row covers or screens to create barriers
- Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings
- Plant aromatic companion plants like lavender to deter pests
Natural and Organic Treatments
If prevention fails, there are several effective organic methods to get rid of lerps:
Insecticidal Soaps
- Insecticidal soaps dissolve the waxy coverings and kill lerps
- Spray directly on infested leaves, especially undersides
- Use according to label instructions, repeat applications may be needed
Neem Oil
- Neem oil smothers and kills juvenile lerps
- Mix with water and spray on leaves, including undersides
- Apply every 5-7 days until lerps are gone
Horticultural Oils
- Oils suffocate lerps and eggs on contact
- Apply as a dormant spray to kill overwintering populations
- Coat leaves thoroughly, repeat applications may be required
Manual Removal
- Remove heavily infested leaves by hand
- Use pressurized water to dislodge lerps
- Wipe leaves with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs to kill lerps
Chemical Pesticide Options
If organic options are ineffective limited chemical pesticide use may be warranted
- Systemic insecticides – absorbed by plants, provide long-term protection
- Contact insecticides – applied directly to lerps, quick but short-term control
- Insect growth regulators – disrupt lerps’ development cycle
- Always follow label directions carefully to avoid plant damage
- Avoid overuse of chemicals to protect pollinators and the environment
After Treatment Care
Getting rid of the infestation is only half the battle. Here are some aftercare tips:
- Remove and destroy any severely damaged leaves and stems
- Continue monitoring for lerps and re-treat if needed
- Provide good growing conditions and avoid overwatering
- Consider applying beneficial nematodes to help control future infestations
- Be patient, it takes time for plants to recover from pest damage
Preventing Reinfestations
To ensure lerps don’t return, be proactive with these measures:
- Maintain proper garden sanitation and weed control
- Check for lerps frequently, especially under leaves
- Respond quickly if small populations appear
- Rotate chemical treatments to avoid pest resistance
- Release beneficial insects to provide natural control
- Plant nectar-producing flowers to attract beneficial insects
- Avoid excessive watering or fertilization
Getting and keeping baby sage plants free of lerps takes diligence. But by identifying lerps early, using integrated organic and chemical control methods, and taking preventive actions, you can protect your plants from serious damage. With prompt attention, your baby sage will be thriving lerps-free in no time.
Frequency of Entities:
lerps: 21
baby sage: 18
leaves: 10
infestation: 8
insects: 7
plants: 7
beneficial: 6
chemical: 5
control: 5
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.
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FAQ
How to get rid of lerps?
What is a natural spray for psyllids?
How to get rid of psyllids naturally?
How do I stop bugs from eating my sage?
How do you get rid of pests on sage plants?
There are a number of ways to control pests on sage plants. The best approach is to use a combination of methods, including: Hand-picking pests. This is the most effective way to control small infestations of aphids and mites. Simply pick the pests off the leaves and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. Using insecticidal soap.
Does sage spread too much?
Sage is a perennial plant, which means that it will come back year after year. However, you can take steps to prevent sage from spreading too much, such as: Prune your sage plant regularly. Pruning your sage plant will help to keep it in check and prevent it from spreading too much.
Do sage plants have pests?
Left unchecked, they can damage and destroy your precious sage plants. Keeping a close watch on your plants during regular daily inspections will help you spot any pests before they can do irreparable harm. Check leaves and stems for these symptoms that come from pests on the prowl. Here are some proven ways to get rid of pests on your sage plants.
What are baby sage leaves used for?
Baby sage leaves have a blackcurrant fragrance and are used to prepare herbal tea. In Mexico, this tea is used as a medicine, and the sage is called “Mirto de montes” (mountain myrtle). The flowers of this sage are a good source of nectar, attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. They add to the biodiversity of your garden.