Blastopsylla occidentalis

Taylor, 1985

Eucalyptus Shoot Psyllid

Blastopsylla occidentalis is a native to Australia that has been introduced to multiple continents, becoming a significant pest of Eucalyptus in forestry plantations worldwide. The species forms colonies on shoot tips where and nymphs feed on phloem sap, causing shoot distortion, reduced growth, apical tip death, and general plant weakening. Under field conditions in tropical and subtropical regions, it exhibits polyvoltine with all life stages present year-round. densities fluctuate seasonally, with peaks during dry periods and declines during heavy rainfall.

Blastopsylla occidentalis by no rights reserved, uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC0 license.

Blastopsylla (male terminalia) by S.E. Thorpe. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Blastopsylla occidentalis: /ˌblæstoʊˈsɪlə ˌɒksɪˈdɛntəlɪs/

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Habitat

Eucalyptus plantations and natural Eucalyptus forests; colonies concentrate specifically on tips (shoots, buds, and young terminal growth) of plants. Documented in plantations of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. camaldulensis hybrids, E. globulus, E. pellita, and E. viminalis.

Distribution

Native to Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia). Introduced and established across multiple continents: Africa (Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa), Asia (China, Indonesia, Israel, Philippines, Turkey, Yemen), Europe (Italy, Portugal, Spain), North America (Mexico, USA: California, Florida, Hawaii), South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay), and Oceania (New Zealand). In Brazil, recorded in states including Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná, Piauí, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo.

Seasonality

Active year-round in tropical and subtropical regions; peaks during dry season (May–September in Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil), with population declines during periods of high rainfall (December–January). No significant correlation with temperature observed in field studies.

Diet

Phloem sap of Eucalyptus ; feeding occurs on buds, bracts, young leaves, and twigs of plants.

Host Associations

Eucalyptus urophylla × E. camaldulensis - primary hybrid plantation in Brazil
Eucalyptus globulus - documented in Cameroon
Eucalyptus pellita - new record from Indonesia, 2023
Eucalyptus viminalis - first recorded
Eucalyptus spp. - general

Life Cycle

to egg averages 32 days under field conditions in Cameroon. Eggs laid on buds, bracts, young leaves, and twigs. Embryonic and larval development followed by ; males emerge before females. Under tropical conditions (Sinop, Brazil), all life stages (eggs, immatures, adults) present simultaneously year-round, indicating continuous polyvoltine .

Behavior

and immatures form colonies concentrated on shoot tips. Females select specific sites for -laying on young plant tissue. Mating process lasts approximately 42 minutes. Adults exhibit average longevity of 11 days, with egg-laying beginning 8 days after . show inverse correlation with rainfall, increasing during dry periods and declining during heavy precipitation.

Ecological Role

Forest pest of Eucalyptus in plantation forestry; causes direct damage through phloem feeding leading to shoot distortion, growth reduction, and plant weakening. Serves as for Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), which has been recovered in Indonesia as a potential agent.

Human Relevance

Significant economic pest in Eucalyptus plantation forestry, reducing timber productivity and requiring management intervention. Subject of research and development using .