psyllid

From translingual Psyllidae, from Ancient Greek ψύλλα (psúlla).

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪlɪd/

psyllid (plural psyllids)

1. Any of the host-specific plant-feeding insects of the family Psyllidae, which feed on plant juices.
   • 1987, Dennis S. Hill, Agricultural Insect Pests of Temperate Regions and Their Control, page 207:

     Psyllids, sometimes called 'suckers', may either be regarded as constituting a single large family (sensu stricto) of about 2000 species, or else about eight closely related families (sensu lato).

   • 1995, J. W. Beardsley, K. S. Hagen, J. R. Leeper, R, L. Tassan, 17: Acacia Psyllid, James Robert Nechols (editor), Biological Control in the Western United States, page 91,

     The acacia psyllid, Acizzia uncatoides (Ferris & Klyver) (formerly Psylla uncatoides), feeds primarily on the young terminal growth of Acacia and Albizia species.

   • 2006, Elizabeth Grafton-cardwell, Asian Citrus Psyllid, ANR Publication 8205, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, page 3,

     Psyllids extract large quantities of sap from the plant as they feed and produce copious amounts of honeydew.

• (any species of family Psyllidae): jumping plant louse