Not known to transmit any human or animal pathogens.

Adults can transmit "Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri", the causal agent of pear decline.

Install up to two sticky cards per tree and hang the traps 4-6 feet high in the direct sunlit regions of the canopy. 

Sticky cards need to be inspected and cleaned regularly, particularly in windy or dusty areas as dust-covered traps will be less effective.

Hot melt adhesives are recommended as specimens collected in warm, humid areas with stickier glue will deteriorate rapidly, complicating identification.

Attaching lures to traps

IMPORTANT: Do not include lures for other target species in the trap when surveying for this target.

European pear sucker feeds on sap extracted from pear buds, flowers, leaves, fruits, and twigs. They excrete honeydew, which promotes growth of sooty mold and russeting on fruits. Heavy infestations cause "psylla shock" that results in defoliation and death of pear trees. "Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri" is transmitted by the pest and causes pear decline, which is characterized by stunted shoots, small or curled leaves, reduction in fruit size, twig dieback, and premature leaf drop. 

Surveys should be conducted when the summer-form is most active, which is likely between April and September. This timing matches adult activity where the pest occurs in Europe and matches the closely related species, C. pyricola, that is in the United States.

Sticky Card Trapping Survey

Install up to two sticky cards per tree. Hang the sticky cards 4-6 feet high in the sunlit regions of the canopy. Collect and replace the sticky cards weekly. In most situations, identification is possible without removing the specimens from the sticky cards.

Beat Sampling

Use beat tray sampling to check for adults on pear trees during summer surveys. Where the pest occurs in Europe, tapping or shaking a 0.75 to 1 inch limb firmly with an 18-inch square beat tray effectively captured adults and larvae. Collect samples in the morning when the adults are less active. Gentle shaking will dislodge adults from their resting positions during warm, humid weather but vigorous shaking is needed during cold weather. Collect fallen adults with an aspirator. See the sample collection instructions below for more information about live specimens. The pear trees to be sampled should be spaced evenly throughout the survey area.

Surveys should target production areas where pear trees are grown, including areas surrounding orchards

If live specimens are collected, keep them in a cooler until they can be transported back to the lab. At the lab, place any containers with live specimens in a freezer for a minimum of 24 hours. After this time, the contents can be sorted. Dump the raw sample into a sorting pan or other shallow container and remove debris and non-target species. If possible, screen the sample to eliminate non-target families, genera, or "look-a-like" species. When in doubt, forward specimens to the identifier. The taxonomic level of sorting will depend on the expertise available.
Once sorting and screening (if possible) have been completed, place specimens into vials of 75-90% ethanol and submit for identification following Procedures for Submitting Survey Samples. 

Identification key for the Central European Cacopsylla species (Burckhardt, 2010)

The psylloidea (Homoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark (Ossiannilsson, 1992)

Cacopsylla pyricola, which is common in the United States, is often mistaken for C. pyri due to their similar appearance, feeding habits, and behavior in pear orchards. Cacopsylla pyri can be separated from C. pyricola consistently at all life stages, including between seasonal morphologies, but when identification remains uncertain, dissection of the male genitalia may be necessary.