Females favor succulent leaves and young shoots for egg laying. Leaf flush is often accompanied by an increase in the psyllid population. Two to four generations a year are expected in California. Development time from egg to adult varies from several weeks during warm weather to several months during prolonged cool temperatures. In mild coastal areas, all stages can be present throughout the year.
Psyllids feed by sucking plant juices.
Excess water and sugar are excreted as honeydew, a clear sugary liquid. Prodigious amounts of honeydew drop onto surfaces below affected trees when populations are high. A black soot like mold grows on the honeydew-covered surfaces. High psyllid populations cause severe leaf drop, creating a sticky nuisance problem. Since then, it has been reported in other localities throughout Southern California.