The plane tree tiger, also known as the plane tree lice or the plane tree reticulated bug, is a small, flying, piercing-sucking insect, like aphids, from North America. It was imported into Europe in the 1960s. In France, it was first spotted in the south-east. It is white with black spots and its wings have the particularity of being membranous, transparent in appearance. The “plane tree tiger” has 2 to 4 generations per year. After spending the winter under the bark of trees or in the warmth of dead leaves, adult females lay up to 350 eggs along the veins under the leaves of trees, around March-April.
The whitish larvae will then gradually disperse throughout the foliage.
The presence of the “plane tree tiger” is particularly noticeable in spring and summer, the insect appreciating hot and dry weather.
During this period, it can invade homes and businesses and deposit numerous droppings in the form of small black balls. Like many small insects that ravage trees, the plane tree tiger has an impressive reproductive capacity, which allows it to quickly colonize its host. It only attacks plane trees, whose foliage it bites to feed on. The pest is thus easily observed on the underside of the leaves, near the veins.
In addition to the damage caused to the trees, there are nuisances in the infested environment. We can see numerous flights by adults, who sometimes do not hesitate to enter homes, as well as honeydew falling onto public roads, street or garden furniture, vehicles, etc..
This is what sometimes gives this repulsive appearance to your car and to the tables in Place Saint-Nicolas in Bastia which must be cleaned regularly.
Many of our Bastia readers have asked us how to get rid of this unpleasant guest?
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