Damage by pittosporum sucker is unlikely to cause a serious lack of vigour in the plants although it can affect appearance. Therefore it should be tolerated and most plant suckers can be a part the biodiversity a heathy garden supports.

Non-pesticide control

• Often suckers do not affect the growth or vigour of plants and so should be tolerated
• Encourage predators and other natural enemies of suckers, in the garden, such as birds, ladybirds, wasps and ground beetles will help keep damage to a minimum.
• If necessary distorted leaves can be removed from the plant however, this may cause more damage than the insect

Originating from New Zealand, pittosporum sucker became established in south west England in 1993 and is has now spread throughout southern England, is established in parts of Scotland and also occurs in Ireland.

The whitish green nymphs are extremely flat and, almost scale-like in appearance. The yellowish green adult insects have two pairs of wings which are held in a roof-like fashion over the insect’s abdomen when at rest and are usually 3-4mm long. There are several generations during the summer with most damage occurring when new growth is developing.