Honeydew can also stain sidewalks and cars parked beneath infested trees. A lerp resembles a small white, round cap that grows to about the size of a lentil or larger. Lerps are made by feeding nymphs from crystallized honeydew. In a serious infestation, eucalyptus leaves can contain several dozen lerps. The nymph protected beneath each lerp is yellow or brown and looks like a wingless aphid.
Adults are light green with orange and yellow spots.
They hold their wings like a roof over the backside of their abdomen. Infested trees typically respond by sprouting new growth - even as the trees are being defoliated, Hoddle said. Often, the new growth is subsequently infested, he said. This insect has tons of food. It's got great weather and nothing is stressing it out.