Distribution of pear psylla,Cacopsylla pyricola(Foerster), eggs on dormant and developing pear budwood was quantified for field and laboratory material. Most eggs were deposited in the grooves just beneath buds, particularly beneath the terminal bud. Preference changed seasonally, and subterminal buds became increasingly preferred as shoots became more phenologically advanced. On the more advanced shoots, psylla laid eggs extensively on newly flushed tissue. Egg survival was affected by location on the shoot, with eggs deposited directly on buds having higher rates of mortality than those deposited adjacent to buds or in lenticels (30–50% versus 18–25% mortality). Development rates of eggs were not noticeably affected by location of eggs on shoots. Data weakly suggest that eggs deposited at the terminal and first subterminal bud were first to hatch in the field. In laboratory tests oviposition rates of similarly aged psylla increased linearly with phenological age of budwood. A conditioning experiment provided no evidence that previous contact with leaf tissue induced low rates of oviposition on dormant budwood (compared with foliage) in no-choice tests. Oviposition rates were about two times higher on foliage of forced shoots than on dormant budwood regardless of previous exposure. However, psylla conditioned on foliage had significantly lower rates of oviposition (on either host tissue) than psylla conditioned on dormant budwood. These results are interpreted as evidence that psylla “waif” for phenologically more advanced shoots before reproductive activity is fully engaged.