Pear: Pear psylla

Biology

The brownish-gray adult pear psylla is about 1⁄10″ long, with clear wings held rooflike over the body. The wings may have a smoky gray spot halfway along the inner margin. The red-eyed nymphs range in color from yellow to dark brown, depending on age. Pear psylla nymphs feed on leaves, preferring succulent new growth in the upper portions of the canopy. Damaged leaves may be blackened or burned in appearance. Psylla feeding produces large amounts of honeydew, a sweet, sticky material which causes russeting when it drips onto fruit. Honeydew may attract ants and often becomes covered with a growth of dark sooty mold. Psylla feeding can cause reduced vigor of trees, stunting, and fruit loss. The pear psylla spreads the organism which causes pear decline.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Several insect predators including green lacewings, ladybird beetles, and predaceous bugs help control pear psylla populations. Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which kill beneficial insects.
• Provide proper culture to prevent susceptible flushes of succulent growth. Prune lightly, supply moderate amounts of nitrogen, and remove water sprouts and suckers.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• Apply oil products during the delayed-dormant season.
• Apply kaolin clay, insecticidal soap, or neem during the growing season as populations begin to build.
• As with other oil-based products, care should be taken in timing insecticide applications to early morning/late evening to minimize the potential for leaf burn during hot weather.
• Homeowners should not make foliar applications to trees over 10 ft. tall.
• Consult a commercial pesticide applicator for treatment of trees and shrubs over 10 ft. tall.

Approved Pesticides

Listed below are examples of pesticides that are legal in Washington. Always read and follow all label directions.

• Bug Buster-O [Organic]
  Active ingredient: pyrethrins [EPA registration number: 1021-1771-54705]
• Garden Safe Fungicide 3 Concentrate - OMRI - [Organic]
  Active ingredient: clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil [EPA registration number: 70051-2-39609]
• Pyola Insect Spray R-T-U
  Active ingredient: pyrethrins, canola oil [EPA registration number: 67702-6-56872]
• Safer Brand BioNEEM Multi-Purpose Insecticide and Repellent Concentrate [Organic]
  Active ingredient: azadirachtin [EPA registration number: 70051-6-42697]
• Safer Brand Garden Defense Multi-Purpose Spray Concentrate [Organic]
  Active ingredient: clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil [EPA registration number: 70051-2-42697]
• Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap Concentrate II [Organic]
  Active ingredient: potassium salts of fatty acid [EPA registration number: 42697-60]
• Surround At Home Crop Protectant
  Active ingredient: kaolin clay [EPA registration number: 61842-18-56872]
• Whitney Farms Outdoor Insect Killer
  Active ingredient: canola oil, pyrethrins [EPA registration number: 67702-6-73327]
• This list may not include all products registered for this use.

Additional Image