Tiny bugs on my Meyer Lemon tree?

10 years ago

My Meyer Lemon tree is budding EVERYWHERE and a couple of flowers just bloomed a few days ago. The flowers are dying now and there are tiny little bugs crawling all over the pedals... is it normal for the flower to just live a couple of days, or are these bugs killing them?

Is it normal for the tree to have bugs?? They're very, very small and crawl pretty fast. No idea what they are, I would take a picture but I'm not even sure if I can capture them...

Edit: I took some photos of them, it was quite hard because they're so tiny. Also, in the photos they look almost black but they're actually yellowish.

This post was edited by winstella on Wed, Jan 22, 14 at 19:26

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Comments (16)

Boozemonkey
10 years ago
Do a search for spider mites and see if that might be your problem. Lots of smart people here I'm sure they will chime in and help soon
meyermike_1micha
10 years ago
No it;'s not normal and flowers can last for days on end..

I would be concerned and you may have to sacrifice your flowers until the next cycle if using any type of oil product..
You could use a non-oily pesticide but I am not sure of what they are.
Someone here can probably help you who's dealt with this..I am not even sure if natural soap product will harm the flowers themeselves...I can't wait to see what someone suggests and wish you all the best!
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Rather than Dawn it's recommended that you use Dr Bronner's peppermint soap. If the soap treatment is unsuccessful, get some neem oil and you local garden center and spray as instructed on label. Let us know how successful you are with the Meyers during the winter as they are somewhat cold sensitve.
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Please post pictures, and a good description of size and whatever else you see on the critters. Among the suspects common on citrus are aphids, scale & whitefly.
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Scale "bugs" feeds on the plant and then secrete a waste product called honeydew. You can google this and read about it. The ants come around to feed on the sweet, sticky honeydew. If you have a big infestation of scale and you walk under a large tree with it, it will "rain" down on you. Yuck. I generally physically remove as many creatures as I can. I try to prune off heavily infested branches, and keep the plant open and airy. I try to keep the plant as healthy as possible with compost and organic mulch, and pesticide and herbicide-free so beneficials including birds will come and help. I would put the scale that I removed and the pruned peices into a bag and discard. I probably would not compost this. Most plants can survive a moderate infestation, most plants are never entirely pest free. I agree horticultural oil acts by smothering the scale. Most folks feel these oils are fairly low toxicity. If you practice IPM you wouldn't really use them. Some folks make a homemade oil and water mixture. Not sure if this is less toxic, use olive oil? If you do use an oil, yes you should spray the undersides of the leaves where the scale hides. I think you would have to repeat after a time as the eggs hatch. I vote for enticing beneficials into the garden with organic practices and plant diversity. I think your Meyer will be OK. Laurie
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i agree .... on repotting... i would have done it a few weeks back ... but what i dont know.. is if you can do it.. without aborting the fruit ... also... think long and hard about what cures you use in soil ... if you plan on eating the fruit ... many things to ponder.. and i would also defer to the citrus peeps ... but one thing for sure .... WATERING IS NEVER A SCHEDULE thing ... you water when it needs water.. and most trees like the media to nearly dry before you water again ... insert finger and find out.. or learn to do it by weight of pot ... get this.. the thing that happens.. when the media doesnt dry enough.. is you get weird bugs living in the media.... and that might be right where you are right now ... so though you think the issue is the media... the root cause.. might be your watering .... [there is almost a root pun there] i wish you luck ... ken ps: now the real .. next question is... have you ever grown a tree indoors???? .... it might be a wild ride ... especially if you are up north.. in the great white north... and have a forced air furnace ... and that again.. is where watering might become a nightmare ... besides indoor humidity issues in winter .... one thing for sure.. your outdoor summer watering schedule.. will be near useless indoors .... this is where it gets real hard.. if you havent figured that out yet.. lol ....
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jean001a
10 years ago
Try for the picture, please.
winstella
Original Author
10 years ago
Alright guys, I took out my DSLR and did the best I could.. hopefully someone can identify these things and let me know if there is anything I should do?

I just purchased this tree from a very reputable nursery about a month ago and have it growing in a container along with a tangerine tree, valencia orange, basil, rosemary, and red lettuce. All in their own containers.

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winstella
Original Author
10 years ago
Also, in the photos they look almost black but they're actually yellowish.
meyermike_1micha
10 years ago
They look like thrips.....I hope not..They are very difficult to rid of...I wish you all the best-)

MIke
winstella
Original Author
10 years ago
so.... how do I get rid of thrips??? :(
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
10 years ago
Yes, I agree with Mike, most likely citrus thrips. Spinosad will take care of them. You can buy Spinosad at better garden centers or on amazon.com (Monterey is one brand). Be sure to spray in the evening, once all your bees have gone back to their hives.

http://cals.arizona.edu/crop/citrus/insects/citrusthrips.pdf

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: UC IPM: Citrus Thrips

This post was edited by hoosierquilt on Thu, Jan 23, 14 at 17:30
winstella
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Patty! I just ordered a bottle from amazon.

Question: how exactly do I apply it? Do I pour into a spray bottle or do I need to somehow add it to my hose? (New at gardening so excuse the dumb question. I tried to search amazon reviews but didn't find the answer)

Also, should I spray the whole tree or just that single branch that has blooming flowers? I haven't seen them on the other branches but maybe I'm just not looking close enough.

Should I spray my other plants as well? All my plants are in the same area... Lettuce, basil, green onion, other citrus plants, etc...

Thanks so much!!! Spinosad seems like a miracle worker!
jean001a
10 years ago
Directions will be on the label.

And yes, they're thrips. The black ones are the adults, the yellow ones the youngsters.

Thrips are quite common in citrus flowers. Not necessarily a disaster on an outdoor plant.

Is your plant indoors? If so, is it possible to put it outdoors where enemies of thrips can do their deed?

Here's info about citrus from UC:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/citrus.html

Here is a link that might be useful: citrus info
winstella
Original Author
10 years ago
My plants are outdoor in my cement backyard..
winstella
Original Author
10 years ago
I just wanted to follow up... I ordered monterey spinosad off amazon (got a HUGE bottle...) used like a couple teaspoons mixed with water in a hand sprayer, sprayed my plant down completely til it was dripping, sprayed into each flower individually since thats where they were.... and I am happy to announce that after one treatment, it has been over a month now and they are completely gone!

My flowers were opening up discolored and ugly looking... now all the new ones are perfectly white and normal looking. yay spinosad! Thank you Patty!
meyermike_1micha
10 years ago
Awww..That is so awesome! I hear that stuff does a great job...I think if I ever have a problem, I know what to use..

Happy for you!

MIke
puglvr1
10 years ago
Thanks for the update! Did you only have to spray once?...Glad it worked!!
winstella
Original Author
10 years ago
Yes, I only sprayed once... I believe most people do 2 or 3 treatments just to be sure but I am unreasonably frightened of any kind of pesticide so I try to do as little as possible hahah.

unfortunately it didn't do anything for the fungus gnats I have, but those weren't the ones damaging my flowers =)
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
10 years ago
Fungus gnats are very well controlled by an organic product called, "Gnatrol". Two, or maybe at the most 3 applications will eradicate the fungus gnats and their larvae. Works extremely well.

Patty S.

Tiny bugs on my Meyer Lemon tree?

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