Boreioglycaspis

Associated with Melaleuca quinquenervia and related Myrtaceae in wetland and terrestrial environments. In its introduced range in Florida, occurs in South Florida ecosystems including the Everglades where the host plant invades.

Native to Australia. Introduced to Florida, USA (Broward County) in February 2002, with subsequent establishment across South Florida.

Activity limited by temperature thresholds; population growth constrained during summer when temperatures exceed 30°C.

Phloem-feeding on Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae).

• Melaleuca quinquenervia - primary hostMyrtaceae; invasive tree in Florida, native to Australia

Develops through egg, nymph, and adult stages on host plant. Developmental rates increase with temperature to an optimum at 25°C; no development below 10°C or above 30°C.

Produces wax from integumental structures. Excretes honeydew; males and females exhibit distinct honeydew excretion patterns.

Classical biological control agent for invasive Melaleuca quinquenervia in Florida. Subject to parasitism by Psyllaephagus migrator, an encyrtid wasp that has reduced populations in the introduced range.

Used in biological control programs to suppress melaleuca invasion in the Everglades and other South Florida ecosystems. Reduces fire hazards and habitat degradation caused by the invasive tree.

• psyllid
• biological control
• invasive species management
• Myrtaceae specialist
• Australian native
• Florida introduced
• temperature sensitive
• parasitoid affected

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• A Psyllid, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae Moore (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psyllidae)
• Biology and Host-Range of Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Potential Biological Control Agent for Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae)
• Host range of Boreioglycaspis melaleucae Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a potential biocontrol agent of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake (Myrtaceae), under quarantine
• Ultrastructure of Wax-Producing Structures on the Integument of the Melaleuca Psyllid Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), with Honeydew Excretion Behavior in Males and Females
• Geographic Distribution and Regional Impacts ofOxyops vitiosa(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) andBoreioglycaspis melaleucae(Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Biological Control Agents of the Invasive TreeMelaleuca quinquenervia
• You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA
• Figure 4 from: McClelland AR, Moore MR, Bremer JS, Talamas EJ, Halbert SE, Singarayan VT, Brown BT, Purcell MF, Brookes DR, Hentz MG (2025) You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 95-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.133593
• Influence of Temperature, Humidity, and Plant Terpenoid Profile on Life History Characteristics of Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Invasive Tree Melaleuca quinquenervia
• Initial Impacts and Field Validation of Host Range for <I>Boreioglycaspis melaleucae</I> Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Invasive Tree <I>Melaleuca quinquenervia</I> (Cav.) Blake (Myrtales: Myrtaceae: Leptospermoideae)
• Supplementary material 3 from: McClelland AR, Moore MR, Bremer JS, Talamas EJ, Halbert SE, Singarayan VT, Brown BT, Purcell MF, Brookes DR, Hentz MG (2025) You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 95-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.133593
• Supplementary material 1 from: McClelland AR, Moore MR, Bremer JS, Talamas EJ, Halbert SE, Singarayan VT, Brown BT, Purcell MF, Brookes DR, Hentz MG (2025) You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 95-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.133593
• Supplementary material 2 from: McClelland AR, Moore MR, Bremer JS, Talamas EJ, Halbert SE, Singarayan VT, Brown BT, Purcell MF, Brookes DR, Hentz MG (2025) You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 95-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.133593
• Figure 1 from: McClelland AR, Moore MR, Bremer JS, Talamas EJ, Halbert SE, Singarayan VT, Brown BT, Purcell MF, Brookes DR, Hentz MG (2025) You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 95-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.133593
• Figure 2 from: McClelland AR, Moore MR, Bremer JS, Talamas EJ, Halbert SE, Singarayan VT, Brown BT, Purcell MF, Brookes DR, Hentz MG (2025) You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 95-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.133593
• Figure 8 from: McClelland AR, Moore MR, Bremer JS, Talamas EJ, Halbert SE, Singarayan VT, Brown BT, Purcell MF, Brookes DR, Hentz MG (2025) You can run, but you will never escape: A new species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the classical biological control agent Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (Moore) (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae) in Florida, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 95-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.133593