Triozidae
Common Name
Overview
The Triozidae family, commonly known as jumping plant lice, are tiny sap-sucking insects known for their strong jumping abilities. They predominantly affect plants, where they feed and can sometimes transmit plant pathogens.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom : Animalia
- Phylum : Arthropoda
- Class : Insecta
- Order : Hemiptera
- Suborder : Sternorrhyncha
- Family : Triozidae
Key Characteristics
- Small size, usually less than 5 mm.
- Possess strong hind legs adapted for jumping.
- Wings are clear or slightly tinted with noticeable venation.
- Mouthparts designed for piercing and sucking plant sap.
- Often covered in waxy secretions.
Life Cycle
- Egg : Laid on host plants, usually on leaves or stems.
- Nymph : Wingless, sap-feeding stage with several instars. Often covered in waxy, filamentous secretions.
- Adult : Winged, mobile form capable of reproduction and dispersal.
Behavior and Ecology
- Primarily found on host plants where they feed on sap.
- Nymphs and adults may produce honeydew, leading to secondary fungal infections.
- Some species are monophagous, feeding on a single plant species, while others are polyphagous.
- Known to cause plant distortions, galls, or discolorations.
Notable Species
- Bactericera cockerelli : Known as the potato psyllid, a serious pest of solanaceous crops.
- Trioza erytreae : Citrus psylla, a vector of the bacterial pathogen causing citrus greening disease.
Conservation
- Generally not a focus of conservation efforts due to their status as pests.
- Biological control methods are employed to manage populations in agricultural areas, using natural predators or parasitoids.
Significance to Humans
- Some species are major agricultural pests affecting crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and citrus.
- Can transmit phytopathogens, such as the Liberibacter bacteria.