The Sequel
Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) juvenile adult
Following yesterday's post of the chicks waiting for Mum, she arrived with some Lerps for them. If you look closely you will see some Lerps in Mums beak.
For those not familiar with Lerps I add the following -
Lerps are basically pure starch with some proteins and fats. They are white in colour, about 5mm in size and look like round, pointy hats. They are created by psyllids. Psyllids are tiny sap-sucking insects. Like many insects, adult female psyllids lay eggs, which hatch into nymphs, which transition through various nymphal stages before emerging as adults. An adult psyllid is about 4mm in size. Psyllids build lerps, which act like tents, to protect them from predators and drying winds.
Psyllids draw sap out of leaves and create their hut-like homes (lerps) to live in. Unfortunately for psyllids, their homes taste sweet (containing more starch than cane sugar) and are prized food of birds, mammals and opportunistic humans. The level of sweetness fluctuates depending on the season, weather and the species of psyllid. Yes, there are over 300 species of psyllid in Australia. Some are associated with only one species of tree, whereas other psyllid species can live on several plant species.
The Sequel
Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) juvenile adult
Following yesterday's post of the chicks waiting for Mum, she arrived with some Lerps for them. If you look closely you will see some Lerps in Mums beak.
For those not familiar with Lerps I add the following -
Lerps are basically pure starch with some proteins and fats. They are white in colour, about 5mm in size and look like round, pointy hats. They are created by psyllids. Psyllids are tiny sap-sucking insects. Like many insects, adult female psyllids lay eggs, which hatch into nymphs, which transition through various nymphal stages before emerging as adults. An adult psyllid is about 4mm in size. Psyllids build lerps, which act like tents, to protect them from predators and drying winds.
Psyllids draw sap out of leaves and create their hut-like homes (lerps) to live in. Unfortunately for psyllids, their homes taste sweet (containing more starch than cane sugar) and are prized food of birds, mammals and opportunistic humans. The level of sweetness fluctuates depending on the season, weather and the species of psyllid. Yes, there are over 300 species of psyllid in Australia. Some are associated with only one species of tree, whereas other psyllid species can live on several plant species.