Psyllidae - psyllids or jumping plant lice

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Bugs

Insects in the order Hemiptera are the 'true bugs'. They are unique amongst insects in having their mouthparts formed into a piercing beak or 'rostrum', used to suck juices from plants or other animals.   Their life cycles do not have a larval and pupal stage; instead, juvenile bugs have a series of nymph-stages or 'instars', which progressively have more adult-like characteristics. Hemiptera are divided into distinct sub-orders:

  • Heteroptera include the shield-bugs, plant bugs, ground bugs, water bugs and allied families.  These have a thickened and opaque basal part to their forewings, with a transparent outer part.  
  • Auchenorrhyncha are the leafhoppers, planthoppers, cicadas and allies. Some authorities divide this into two separate sub-orders: Cicadamorpha and Fulgoromorpha.  Many have enlarged back legs and can jump.
  • Sternorrhyncha are aphids, psyllids and allies.    

Identification help

Facebook group: UK Hemiptera

Facebook group: Aphids, Psyllids, Scales & allies (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha)

Aphids, Psyllids and allies (Sternorrhyncha)

Facebook group for Aphids, Psyllids, Scales & allies (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha)

Emerson, J.  2026. Psyllids of Norfolk. Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society.  The is a very helpful and informative guide from the Norfolk County Recorders for psyllids, covering species that may also be found in VC55.

Psyllidae - psyllids or jumping plant lice

'Psyllids' are in the superfamily Psylloidea, comprising several other families as well as Psyllidae.  A key to adult insects can be downloaded from the Royal Entomological Society (Hodkinson. I.D. & White, I.M. (1979) Homoptera - Psylloidea. RES)

Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society has produced a very helpful guide (Emerson, J. (2024) Psyllids of Norfolk. N&NNS)

Gall-causing psyllids are descibed in Redfern, M. & Shirley, P.  2023.  British Plant Galls. FSC

British Bugs website has a gallery page of adult insects