A visit to Hyde Park, Sydney, where the Sycamore Lace Bug’s invasion of Australia was discovered
The story goes that a scientist from overseas was visiting the Museum in Sydney. He crossed the street to Hyde Park and stood under a Plane tree (below).
The Plane tree (Platanus orientalis) on which the first Australian record of the Sycamore Lace Bug was made
He examined a leaf…
Underside of a Plane tree leaf in Hyde Park, Sydney
… and remarked, “I see you have the Sycamore Lace Bug“.
Three adult Sycamore Lace Bugs, surrounded by cast off skins from juvenile moults
This was the first record of an unwelcome invasive pest that is currently spreading inland from Orange to Bathurst and will eventually extend as far as Canberra and Melbourne.
The Plane Tree is a valued urban tree that grows vigorously in harsh environments such as streets and paved carparks, providing dense shade in the summer.
One hypothesis that seeks to explain its rapid spread is that since the Plane Tree is often planted along roadsides, tall vehicles can break off branches and carry them from city to city, where they are likely to brush against other Plane Trees.