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 beach morning glory is a beautiful flowering vine that thrives in coastal environments. But like any plant, it can be susceptible to pest problems. One common issue for beach morning glories is the presence of lerps – tiny, sap-sucking insects that can weaken and damage the plant. If you’ve noticed these pesky bugs on your beach morning glories, there are several effective methods to get rid of them.
What Are Lerps?
Lerps are small, scale-like insects that attach to the leaves and stems of plants and feed on their sap They produce a protective coating over their bodies called a “lerp”, which shields them from predators and environmental factors On beach morning glories, lerps tend to congregate on the undersides of leaves. They can appear as tiny white or brown bumps scattered across the foliage. Left unchecked, lerps can stunt growth, cause leaves to yellow and wilt, and attract ants with their sugary secretions. Getting rid of them quickly is key to protecting the health of your beach morning glories.
Manual Removal
One of the easiest ways to eliminate small lerp populations is by manually removing them from your plants. Using your fingers or a soft brush, gently rub the lerp bumps off the leaves. Make sure to check both the top and undersides of leaves – this is where lerps tend to gather. Dispose of any lerps you remove far away from your plants so they don’t simply recolonize the morning glories. Regular manual removal can help contain light infestations.
Natural Predators
Releasing natural predators like ladybugs, lacewings, or predatory mites onto your beach morning glories can provide biological pest control against lerps. These beneficial insects actively hunt lerps and feed on them, reducing lerp numbers without the use of chemicals. You can purchase live ladybugs or other predatory insects from garden supply stores. Periodic releases can keep lerp infestations in check. Just be sure there are enough lerps to sustain the predators.
Horticultural Oils
Applying lightweight horticultural oils is effective for smothering and killing lerps on contact. The oils coat and suffocate the lerps while being safe for plants. Mix horticultural oil with water per the product instructions and spray all leaf surfaces, especially the undersides. The oil must contact the lerps directly in order to work. Repeat applications may be needed to control heavy infestations. Focus treatments in early morning or late evening when the morning glories are not in direct sun to avoid leaf burn.
Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is another lerp-killing option that can be sprayed directly onto infested beach morning glory foliage. The soap’s active ingredients disrupt the waxy coating on lerps, causing them to dehydrate, detach from leaves, and die. Use insecticidal soap as directed on the packaging, coating all affected areas and repeating every 5-7 days until lerps are gone. Insecticidal soap works fast and is one of the less-toxic treatment methods.
Neem Oil
Extracted from the neem tree, neem oil is a natural pesticide that can help control lerps on beach morning glories when applied as a foliar spray Neem oil contains azadirachtin, which interferes with a lerp’s growth and reproduction Spray a diluted neem oil solution onto morning glory leaves, especially the undersides where lerps hide. Neem oil works gradually and may need reapplication. Avoid spraying neem oil during the hot midday sun or it can burn delicate morning glory foliage.
Systemic Insecticides
For serious lerp infestations, systemic insecticides that are absorbed into the morning glory’s vascular system may be warranted. Systemics provide extended residual control as they circulate through the plant’s tissues. However, they should be used judiciously and according to label directions since they can also impact beneficial insects. Imidacloprid and acephate are two common choices for systemic lerp control. Hire a licensed pest control operator if unsure about proper use of these more potent insecticides.
Prevention
Preventing lerps from ever becoming an issue is ideal Here are some tips
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Inspect plants frequently and treat early before infestations intensify.
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Avoid excess fertilization which can facilitate lerp outbreaks.
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Use row covers or reflective mulch early in season to thwart initial colonization.
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Wash off plants with a strong stream of water to dislodge some lerps.
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Promote overall morning glory health and vigor through proper culture.
By taking a multipronged approach of removal, natural predators, horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, neem, and prevention, you can successfully rid your beach morning glories of destructive lerps and maintain their seasonal beauty. Just be patient and persistent until you break the lerp life cycle. With vigilance and early intervention, your beach morning glories will thrive this season free of these annoying sap-sucking pests.
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.
Q&A – How do I get rid of this morning glory so I can plant bulbs? I have sprayed and it returned.
FAQ
How to get rid of lerps?
How to get rid of invasive morning glory vines?
How to get rid of psyllids naturally?
How to get rid of bugs on morning glories?
Do morning glories Wilt?
Morning glories are beautiful, fragrant flowers that wake up with the sun and add vibrant color to your garden. Morning glories are hardy plants and are normally healthy, but sometimes insects on morning glory vines harm the health of the plant. Yellow, wilting leaves are telltale signs that your plant has an insect problem.
How do you grow beach morning glories?
To establish beach morning glories in gardens, take a cutting and set it into moistened sand. The internodes will shortly send out roots. Set them 3 feet (1 m.) apart and keep plants moist for the first few months. Gardeners growing beach morning glories can breathe a sigh of relief.
Do morning glories eat insects?
Here’s how it works . Morning glories are beautiful, fragrant flowers that wake up with the sun and add vibrant color to your garden. Morning glories are hardy plants and are normally healthy, but sometimes insects on morning glory vines harm the health of the plant.
How do I get rid of Morning Glory?
Borax also can kill Morning Glory efficiently. 2,4-D can kill Morning Glory too, spray it if this invasive vine grows into your lawn. A 2% solution of Glyphosate can kill Morning Glory efficiently. Glyphosate is perhaps the easiest way to get rid of invasive Morning Glory. But, I don’t recommend using Glyphosate to control Morning Glory.