Identification and Control Methods for the Wolfberry Psyllid

Also known as jaundice, it belongs to the order Homoptera, family Psyllidae. The pest's scientific name is PoratriozasinicaYangetLi. It damages crops such as wolfberry (goji) and black nightshade.

Pest identification: adults and nymphs pierce and suck sap on the undersides of leaves, tender shoots and buds, causing the plant to decline in vigor and the leaves to turn yellow. The secreted honeydew causes sooty mold on the leaf surfaces below. The adult is about 3.8 mm long, yellow-brown to dark brown in body color, with orange-yellow markings. There is one pair of milky protrusions on the front of the frons; the basal segment and terminal segment of the antennae are black, while the rest are yellow. The femora of the front and middle legs are the same color as the body; the hind femora are slightly black, and the spines at the tip of the tibiae are black, while the rest of the thoracic legs are yellow. On the base of the dorsal side of the brown abdomen there is a distinct waxy-white transverse band. The wings are transparent, with yellow-brown veins. The eggs are orange-yellow, long oval in shape, with a filamentous egg stalk. The grown nymph is yellow, about 3 mm long. There are 2 pairs of brown spots on the dorsal side; the wing buds protrude noticeably forward and outward. The abdominal margin is densely covered with white tassel-like secretory tubes.

Life habits: In the north, 3-4 generations occur per year. It overwinters as adults under clods of soil, in bark crevices, in dead branches and fallen leaves, or in cracks in house walls. The overwintering adults begin activity when the wolfberry sprouts the following year. Adults mostly rest on the undersides of leaves, and often sway their bodies while sucking sap. Eggs are laid on the undersides or upper surfaces of leaves, have filamentous egg stalks, and are clustered densely together. After the eggs hatch, the nymphs pierce and suck sap on the original leaf or on nearby branches and leaves. During feeding, both adults and nymphs secrete honeydew onto the leaf surfaces below while sucking, leading to sooty mold.

Control measures: (1) During the adult overwintering period, destroy their overwintering sites, clear away dead branches and fallen leaves, and reduce the number of overwintering adults. (2) Before the adults begin activity in spring, irrigate or turn the soil to eliminate part of the pest source. (3) For chemical control during the peak period of adults and nymphs, spray with 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate or 90% trichlorfon crystalline at 1000 times dilution, or 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate or 25% buprofezin emulsifiable concentrate at 1000-1500 times dilution, or 1% 7051 insecticidal agent emulsifiable concentrate or 2.5% Kung Fu emulsifiable concentrate at 2000-3000 times dilution, or 15% yashijue emulsifiable concentrate or 2.5% Uranus emulsifiable concentrate at 3000-4000 times dilution. (4) Control it together when controlling other pests.