As a follow up to the Lerp discussion it is worth quoting W.W.
Froggatt, (1923) NSW Government Entomologist:
"[In Australia] the place of aphids is taken by the typical lerp
insect. These tiny homopterous insects belonging to the PSYLLIDAE are
well defined in Australia under the popular name of 'lerp insects', in
reference to the remarkable little structures that the larvae of many
species produce from the surplus sap they suck up, discharge from the
anal segment, and spin into protective shields with their hind legs.
Moving about under the lerp scale, they feed upon the sap until
full-grown, when they usually crawl from under the shelter and rest on
the surface of the leaf, while the pupal skin splits down the back,
and the perfect, minute, winged, cicada-like insect emerges.'
The colour plate of Lerp Scales published in this publication
illustrates 21 vastly different form and colour of Lerp scale.
I would suspect that there are a number of avian species that eat
these insects when they emerge to take wing. In the Royal Botanic
Gardens the Welcome Swallow and Tree Martins are often seen in large
numbers feeding on the lerp insects emerging from the various Ficus
trees around the Gardens.
Alan Leishman,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: birding-aus Lerps in Australia
Author: "Martin O'Brien"<> at mailgate
Date: 18/5/99 12:17
Sean Pywell asks about lerps.
My copy of "The Insects of Australia" by the CSIRO (1991) gives a
fascinating account on psyllid insects, some of which follows.
Vol. I, p. 448: (Psyllids)
"Wax production common, secreted mostly from base of lanceolate setae...on
abdomen. Nymphs of many Spondyliaspidinae build remarkable lerps (scales,
tests) on eucalypts. Lerps are largely formed from anal excreta (honeydew)
and have a high carbohydrate content. They take various forms such as
simple sugary cones, univalves, bivalves or intricately woven baskets and
fans".
Makes you want to take along a magnifying glass on the next forest birding
trip.
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer
Scientific Advisory Committee
Threatened Species Program
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde.,
East Melbourne, 3002
Victoria, AUSTRALIA
tel: +61 3 9412 4567
fax: +61 3 9412 4586
e-mail:
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