Bell miners ‘farming’ destructive psyllids continue to spread dieback through eucalypts

A native bird with a taste for the sugary sap on the back of insects, and a particular talent in “farming” them, could be indirectly causing the destruction of millions of hectares of forest.

In ensuring a steady supply of food, the bell miner is causing the spread of the deadly tree disease, dieback.

How it spreads dieback has been found to be a complex relationship that could be likened to milking a cow or shearing a sheep.

The bird’s favourite food is the sugary sap, or lerp, growing on the back of an insect…