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Hackberry Psyllid
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Hackberry Psyllid

Order: Homoptera

Family: Psyllidae

Pest Status: Hackberry psyllids are so small that they can become a nuisance pest by crawling through the screens of windows. They are the cause of hackberry nipple galls on leaves. Even though the gall does not damage the health of the tree, it does make the leaves unsightly.

Appearance: Adults are about 1/8-inch long, black-and-white mottled with dark spots on the wings. Their wedge-shape bodies and clear membranous wings cause them to resemble tiny cicadas.

Life Cycle: In spring, the adults emerge from leaf litter to mate and deposit their eggs. The nymphs feed on leaves and remain there throughout the summer. Adults emerge in early fall.

Where to Collect: Adults can be found in crevices of bark, in buildings at window and door ledges and in vegetation.