Thaumastocoris australicus
Chlorosis of the leaves resulting in silvering or bronzing. High infestations may cause defoliation, branch dieback, and in extreme cases canopy thinning and tree mortality (Jacobs & Neser 2005).
Adult T. peregrinus are small; 2 to 3mm in length. Their bodies are flattened and light brown with darker brown patches. The antennae have darker tips and their mandibular plates are long, broad and curved on the outer margin (Jacobs & Neser 2005).
Thaumastocoris peregrinus has multiple generations per year. Eggs are laid on the leaf surface, often in clusters. There are five nymphal instars. Adults can live up to 40 days and females produce approx. 60 eggs.
An egg parasitoid wasp, Cleruchoides noackae (Mymaridae) has been released as a biological control agent, with the first releases in 2013.
Jacobs DH, Neser S. 2005. Thaumastocoris australicus kirkaldy (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) : a new insect arrival in South Africa, damaging to Eucalyptus trees. South African Journal of Science 101:233-236
Nadel R, Slippers B, Scholes M, Lawson S, Noack A, Wilcken C, Bouvet J, Wingfield M. 2010. DNA bar-coding reveals source and patterns of Thaumastocoris peregrinus invasions in South Africa and South America. Biological Invasions 12:1067-1077
