myrmecos.net

Glycaspis sp. - Lerp Insect
Psyllidae
Victoria, Australia

photograph © Alex Wild 2006

This tangled mass of threads, called a lerp, is secreted by a little psyllid bug that feeds on the juices of Eucalyptus leaves.

 
Australia, VIC: Yandoit, c. 18 km SW Castlemaine.
37º11.310'S 144º04.765'E, 290m, 23.ii.2006
Dry sclerophyll, Lerp on young Eucalyptus tree.

This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS D60, using a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.