Seasonal development
and life cycle—Pear psylla
Pear psylla adults overwinter in sheltered places in the bark or under the ground. Eggs are tiny, elongated,
and yellow and are barely visible without a hand lens. They are laid on or near fruit spurs starting
in late January or early February. As buds open, females lay eggs along midribs and petioles of developing
leaves or in stems and leaves of blossoms. Nymphs pass through five instars, four of which are almost
completely encased in honeydew. When first hatched, the tiny nymphs are yellow with red eyes and black
antennae. The third stage is yellowish green and the fourth greenish brown. The fifth instar, called
the hardshell stage, is dark with prominent wing pads. |
Psylla
adult |
Eggs
on fruit spurs |
Hardshell
stage |
Young
nymph |
|
