~2mm bl. Parasitoid reared from Red gum lerp psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on Eucalyptus at Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 12-16-08. © Peter J. Bryant

Encyrtid Wasp

Psyllaephagus bliteus

Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae

This parasitic wasp feeds only on the Red gum lerp psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei), a pest of eucalyptus. It was introduced from Australia for biological control of the pest. Females lay eggs in nymphs of the psyllid, and the resulting larvae feed on the psyllid, then metamorphose in the lerp. The wasp makes an emergence hole in the lerp when ready to leave.

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Enlarged tibial spur on the middle leg is characteristic of this family. Parasitoid reared from Red gum lerp psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on Eucalyptus at Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 12-16-08. © Peter J. Bryant

Enlarged tibial spur on the middle leg is characteristic of this family. Parasitoid reared from Red gum lerp psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on Eucalyptus at Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 12-16-08. © Peter J. Bryant