Psyllid

Last updated: 3 November 2026
Pittosporum psyllid © Grey Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Photo by Grey Smith. some rights reserved (CC-BY). Cropped for website

Description

Psyllids are tiny sap-sucking insects. Adults grow between 1 and 3 millimetres long and look like a tiny cicada. Their body is brown or green and has white or yellow markings. Nymphs are oval shaped, scale-like, and yellow, green or orange in colour. Adults will fly when disturbed and can spread rapidly. There are about 50 native species of psyllid in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Common native plant hosts

Scientific names Māori/common names
Dodonaea viscosa Akeake
Griselinia spp. Puka, broadleaf, kāpuka
Metrosideros excelsa Pōhutukawa
Olearia spp. Chatham Island akeake, hakapiri, golden akeake,
akiraho, tree daisy
Pittosporum spp. Karo, tarata, lemonwood, kohukohu, black matipo,
kōhūhū
Pseudopanax arboreus Five-finger, whauwhaupaku
Sophora spp. Kōwhai
Scientific names
Dodonaea viscosa
Māori/common names
Akeake
Scientific names
Griselinia spp.
Māori/common names
Puka, broadleaf, kāpuka
Scientific names
Metrosideros excelsa
Māori/common names
Pōhutukawa
Scientific names
Olearia spp.
Māori/common names
Chatham Island akeake, hakapiri, golden akeake,
akiraho, tree daisy
Scientific names
Pittosporum spp.
Māori/common names
Karo, tarata, lemonwood, kohukohu, black matipo,
kōhūhū
Scientific names
Pseudopanax arboreus
Māori/common names
Five-finger, whauwhaupaku
Scientific names
Sophora spp.
Māori/common names
Kōwhai

Symptoms and damage

Psyllids excrete honeydew, which ants and wasps feed on. Honeydew can have a negative effect on plants by inhibiting photosynthesis, which can affect plant growth.

It also provides a breeding ground for fungi including sooty mould. Psyllids are known to transmit diseases to plants.

Psyllid damage to foliage can include:

  • stunted and deformed new growth
  • wart looking bumps on leaves
  • severe wilting
  • plant stress
  • yellowing leaf margins
  • upward curling of leaves.

Prevention and control tips

  • keep plants healthy
  • monitor populations with sticky traps
  • organic insecticides
  • systemic insecticides.

Image details

Photo by Grey Smith – some rights reserved (CC-BY)

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