Common Jassid - Eurymela fenestrata

This page contains pictures and information about Common Jassids that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Adult body length 15mm

Common Jassid is one of the largest size in the Eurymelidae family. The adult is brown and dark violet in colour under sunlight. There were some white spots on its wings. Nymph has the red body with black markings.



End August, we found many Common Jassids on young gum tree in a park in Sinnamon Park. Most young gum trees we saw were infected. Adults and different stages of nymph can be found mixed together. Besides some black moss, we did not see any damage on those trees.



As most bugs in Order Hemiptera, there are eggs, 5 nymph and adult stages in their life cycle. The above pictures show the 5th instars stage. They will become adults very soon. Usually there is one generation per year.


3rd, 4th and 5th instars

As seen in the pictures there were some ants walking around. They are attended by ants. The excrete sugary 'honey dew' which is favoured by the ants.


2nd, 3rd, 4th instars and adults.

They are slow moving, run aside when disturbed. The nymphs rarely jump. The adults may jump and fly away when touched.


Adult with orange eyes and powder green abdomen.


Adult with brown eyes and powder pink abdomen.



Their body colours vary quite a bit. The abdomen is powder blue, green or pink in colour. Their eyes are orange or dark brown. If they were not found in the same group mixed together, we may considered they were different species.






We saw this Leafhopper once on gum leaf in Karawatha Forest during mid summer. The Leafhopper was brown and violet in colour under sunlight. There were some white spots on its wings.



Reference:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 472-437.
2. Genus Eurymela Le Peletier & Serville - Fletcher, M.J. and Larivière, M.-C. (2001 and updates).
3. Forest Health Sheet Leafhoppers - By Charlma Phillips, Forest Health Scientist, ForestrySA , Revised June 1992.
4. Eurymela fenestrata Le Peletier & Serville, 1825 - Australian Biological Resources Study.