Glycaspis brimblecombei
Of all the Med plants in California, the one with the biggest profile is the
invader - eucalyptus. All you need to do to confirm this is drive Highway
101 between San Francisco and San Diego, hundreds of miles lined with them.
Here in Santa Cruz County, on Monterey Bay, they have elbowed out a lot of
the native trees and shrubs. When I built my house on this one acre, I spent
6 months clearing the property - but not all of the trees, to my regret.
Thanks to all of you who answered my query about the diseased eucalypts near
here.
After much searching, phoning, and visiting - I discovered the disease
is commonly called the Red Lerp Psyllid (botanical name above). The Los
Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner's Office has issued a three-page
report on the outbreaks in differents parts of the state - they can easily
report on this as there are three heavily infested stands bordering the
motorway across from their offices in El Monte!
Outbreaks in Alameda County, at Stanford University, Oakland, Hayward,
South San Francisco, etc. This is the first outbreak here.
First identified in Brisbane, Australia, in 1964. The psyllids produce
large amounts of honey-dew, which stains the ground beneath trees. A
blackish, sooty mold grows on the surfaces. In severe infestations thousands
of lerps cover the ground and understory, giving the appearance of hail.
Severe leaf drop follows.
The species attacked include: Red Gum, E.camaldulensis, E. cladocalyx,
E. globulus (blue gum - I have hundreds), E. rudis, and three other species.
There is no known real cure for the problem at this time. In the L.A.
report several suggestions are made.
S.H. Dreistadt, R.W.Garrison, and R.J. Gill have written a report on the
psyllid, which I understand is to be printed soon (UC Davis!).
If anyone can throw more light on this, let me know.
Bill Grant
