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Glycaspis brimblecombei is a sap-sucking insect that feeds on Eucalypts. The pest is native to Australia. The nymph feeds on eucalypt leaves and secretes honeydew with which they construct a waxy cover (called a lerp) around themselves. This cover is whitish and conical in shape and shelters the insects until the adult stage. The insect is considered a serious pest that causes leaf discoloration, severe leaf drop, twig dieback and some tree mortality on some Eucalyptus species. In October 2016, the red gum lerp psyllid was recorded for the first time in Mbizi forest plantation in Tanzania infesting Eucalyptus camaldulensis and different Eucalyptus clones. A study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of Eucalypt germplasm to the insect pest. Results showed that E. camaldulensis was more infested followed by GC 514, GC 167, GC 584, GC 15, GC 785 clones while GC 940 was the least infested. Eucalyptus grandis was not infested. Stakeholders can be able to use the susceptibility grouping of the Eucalyptus germplasm to determine what to plant in areas of red gum lerp psyllid infestation. Similar research work should be carried in all major host tree growing areas to determine susceptibility groups for the areas. |
