Bug FAQPeppertree Psyllid
Calophya schini · Order: Hemiptera · Family: Calophyidae
Also called: Pepper tree psyllid
Source: Wikipedia
Adult Peppertree psyllids are tiny, about 2 mm long, and are orange to pale yellow or green with clear wings. Nymphs feed on Schinus molle leaves, making dimples that can develop into serious leaf deformities.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults are orange to pale yellow or green with clear (hyaline) wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
When the wings are folded, an adult measures about 2 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
When many nymphs are present, they cause severe leaf malformations that can harm the tree.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives on the ornamental tree Schinus molle wherever that tree is planted.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Both adults and nymphs feed on Schinus molle.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Nymphs produce small dimples on the leaves as they feed.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species originates in Central America but is also found in the United States and New Zealand.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 1 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What damage does the Peppertree psyllid cause?
Nymphs make dimples that can turn into serious leaf deformities, damaging the tree.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I recognize an adult Peppertree psyllid?
Adults are about 2 mm long, orange to pale yellow or green, with clear wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the Peppertree psyllid found?
It is native to Central America but also occurs in the United States and New Zealand wherever Schinus molle is grown.
Source: Wikipedia
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calophya_schini
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.