The adults are a mottled brown and cream with lacy wings.
Nymphs are wingless. Early instars are light cream, greenish/yellow or pinkish/orange with later instars being green/grey to black.
Adult size: 2-3mm
Out and about
They are around in large numbers at the beginning of spring when the eggs laid in winter hatch.
They are an Australian native, originally inhabiting Queensland and New South Wales but now found in all states except the Northern Territory
Reproduction and Life cycle
The female lays eggs on underside of leaves within the leaf tissue in late autumn through to early winter which will hatch in the following spring. The nymphs go through five moults. There is usually 2 to 4 generations per year. Their life cycle is 12 to 23 days but may be longer if conditions are not favourable. Populations multiply quickly.
To deter
Stressed trees are more susceptible to bug attack so it is important to maintain healthy trees. Ensure that they have adequate water and mulch to prevent evaporation. Apply compost to improve organic matter and soil condition. The trees may need more feed, particularly magnesium as this will build up the chlorophyll which the bug has depleted.
- keep canopy open as bugs don’t like light
To control
-pyrethrum if infestation is bad
-neem spray
Need to repeat application regularly perhaps even weekly in order to break the reproductive cycle as eggs are not affected by sprays.
Plants to repel
Plants to attract
Predators
Green lacewing- plant flowering ground covers to encourage egg parasitising insects that feed on nectar
Why they are a Pest
They are sap-suckers and a serious pest of olive trees.They feed on the underside of leaves resulting in reduced yields and can kill trees if left untreated. Infestation can be seen on the upper surface of leaves as a stippled effect of bright green/yellow as well as rust and leaf drop.
Their original host is the native mock olive (Notelaea longifolia), but they have easily moved over to the commercially grown olive (Olea europaea).
