What Pest is Eating My Lilly Pilly Leaves and How Do I Treat It?

Are mysterious pests turning your vibrant lilly pilly leaves into a feast?

Let’s discover the culprits behind this leafy drama. Lilly pillies are amazing plants with lush green foliage that smells amazing when crushed up. They have the most beautiful white fluffy flowers and pink to bright red edible berries.

However, their beauty can be undermined by pests. Two pests in particular are by far the most common: one which causes pimples on the leaves, and another one that chews chunks out of them.

The 2 Most Common Lilly Pilly Pests

Lilly Pilly Beetles (Paropsides calypso)

The lilly pilly beetle is green in colour with voracious appetite. While they aren’t a massive threat to your plant’s health in smaller numbers, they can make lilly pillies look unsightly with the jagged edges left behind on leaves.

Unfortunately, there’s limited information regarding these pests on the internet. The quickest way to knock a population back would be to spray a horticultural (white) oil on top of, and beneath every leaf. This is a low-impact method that will physically smother any insects that come in contact with it.

Being true beetles, they have a hard shell, meaning that certain predators like ladybirds can’t feed on them. Predatory true bugs like assassin bugs have armour-piercing mouth parts, but I have found little information about their ability to feed on lilly pilly beetles.

Always use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach when dealing with pests, with a long-term view to build thriving ecosystems and use the least harmful methods first.

Lilly Pilly Psyllids (Trioza adventicia)

Lilly pilly psyllids are easily identified by their bumpy leaf galls used to protect them while they drain the plant’s sap. While they won’t kill a plant straight away, they can be a vector for disease as well as cause the plant to become unsightly.

Again, white oil is an easy way to knock populations back – as long as you spray beneath the leaves. Encouraging beneficial insects like micro wasps, predatory beetles, mites and others could help.

Variability in Susceptibility

Different Lily Pilly Species and Varieties

Susceptibility Factors: Some lilly pillies are more vulnerable to pests than others. For starters, any plant which is un-healthy is a magnet for pests – this can include planting too deeply, too much or too little water, lack of sunlight, climate factors, soil quality, and so forth.

As well as health factors, some species and varieties are inherently more resilient than others.

Resistant Varieties: Two cultivars stick out when it comes to psyllid-resistant varieties.

Straight and Narrow™ Syzygium australe ‘SAN01’ PBR Intended:

Strengths:

•  Very slender, semi-compact, and dense plant.
• Tight, attractive leaves with white flowers turning into pink/red fruit.
• Suitable for constricted planting areas like fences and drive-ways.
• Natural psyllid resistance.

Weaknesses:

• More plants required along hedgelines due to narrow growth.
• Not for coastal gardens.

Important Factors:

• Size: 5-8m high x 1-1.5m wide.
• Planting Density: 1 plant per m².
• Position: Full sun to shade, well-drained soil.
• Care: Mulched garden, slow-release fertiliser in spring. Regular pruning for desired shape and size.

Sublime™ Acmena smithii ‘DOW30’ PBR:

Strengths:

• Mid-sized tree with refreshing lime new growth.
• Dense foliage reaching the ground.
• Lots of flowers.
• Less mess with rarely any berries produced.
• Good for screening and topiary.
• Coastal tolerant.
• Extremely resistant to psyllids.

Weaknesses:

• Too wide for tight spaces.
• Barely any edible berries.

Important Factors:

• Size: 5m high x 2-3m wide.
• Planting Density: 1 plant per 1.5-5m².
• Position: Full sun to shade, well-drained soil. Care: Mulched garden, slow-release fertiliser in spring. Regular pruning for desired shape and size.

Expert Recommendations for Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approach

Sustainable Practices: Advocating for environmentally friendly pest control strategies, we champion the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods to maintain plant health.

Monitoring Techniques: Encouraging vigilance, we recommend proactive monitoring practices to detect early signs of pest activity and intervene effectively.

Beneficial Predators: Exploring nature’s allies, we delve into the role of natural predators in balancing pest populations within lilly pilly ecosystems, promoting ecological harmony.

Daniel’s Wrap

Key Takeaways: Summarising the essential insights on lilly pilly pests, we equip readers with valuable knowledge to protect their cherished lilly pilly plants from harm.

Closing Thoughts: Encouraging action, we inspire gardeners to implement informed pest management practices, nurturing thriving lilly pilly environments and preserving the natural beauty of their gardens.

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