Can you take a closeup of the underside of the leaves? That is an odd pattern of discoloration. It could maybe be leaf miners... or, since I don't see any discoloration crossing the midline, it could be something more sinister like HLB. I'm not sure hopefully someone else will be definitive for you.

Might be able to rule out HLB if it's not yet in your area - where did you get the tree? How long have you had it? and what county in GA are you in?

Did you wash the plant before you took the pictures? It looks like severe spider mite damage, but I do not see any signs of the culprits.

Barb

What exactly do you mean by keeps coming back? On the same leaf? or new ones?
JoJo

Definitely not Citrus Leaf Miner (as I am unfortunately an expert with this disease as it is rampant here in San Diego county, Calif.) It sure looks like spider mite to me. See the link below. If you click on the photo, you can see the leaves look identical to what you are showing.

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: UC Davis IPM - Citrus Red Mite

Thank you all for the quick replies. Here are a few more pictures I took in the sun that seem to show tiny red critters on the leaves as well, but I can't really tell for sure.

This problem always starts during the winter when I bring the plants indoors, then slowly disappears as summer drags on and the plants green-up nicely. But this is by far the worst episode yet.

If I remember correctly, I purchased these from Spring Hill nursery about five or six years ago. I have a smaller one that's a bit younger with the same exact problem (pictured.)

Ahh, good to know - it is the circular borders around the discoloration that made me think of leaf miners.

It does look like the pic from UC Davis but I've never had mites do that much damage before... must be a lot of mites...

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Thank you all for the quick replies. Here are a few more pictures I took in the sun that seem to show tiny red critters on the leaves as well, but I can't really tell for sure.

This problem always starts during the winter when I bring the plants indoors, then slowly disappears as summer drags on and the plants green-up nicely. But this is by far the worst episode yet.

If I remember correctly, I purchased these from Spring Hill nursery about five or six years ago. I have a smaller one that's a bit younger with the same exact problem (pictured.)

I apologize for any double posts. I'm new to forums :)

Barb,

No, I didn't wash the plants before photographing them. This may account for some of the particles that are on the leaves. There's a lot of stuff left over from last year that hasn't been washed off. That's why I'm having a hard time telling if the little red critters are new or old, or if they're even alive.

And to the poster that asked which county I'm in, I live in Gwinnett. Sorry if I missed any questions.

Also, if mites are indeed the culprits here, how should I go about treating them? What products are the best?

This is the closest picture I could get of the little buggers.

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Hey georgia
Here is what I do for red mites that stops them dead. I mix about half a cup of fish emulsion in a regular spray bottled filled with water. I then spray all leafs bottom and top including the branches trunk and even the soil. It has been posted by others that it works for many types of citrus loving bugs. Be sure you do it outside or your house will smell like a fish processing facility.

Good luck
Mike

The white ones are spider mites and the leaf discoloration proves so.

As for the little red dots, not a clue but many here have been quite helpful and Mikes advice I wouldn't hesitate on.

Maybe a disease and pest expert will be by, one I have in mind and she can definitely verify.

Mike

Georgia,

Definitely spider mites. I have never tried the fish emulsion, although many here sing its merits. I use ultra fine horticultural oil. I mix up a small sprayer (24 oz, I think) with a 1/4 teaspoon of the oil and warm water, shake, spray all surfaces, crevices, branches, trunk and top of soil. The bottle will have the exact dilution requirement. Do it in the morning or at night, in bathtub if the weather is not cooperating. With this degree of infestation, I would repeat in 5 to 7 days, and repeat one additional time if necessary. It is organic, smothers the mite in the adult and nymph stage, but is not as thorough on the eggs, thus the repeat(s). The one advantage for this time of year is it does not smell like fish emulsion will.

Doing this once a week in the fall starting about 3 weeks before you plan on bringing them in will cut down on your infestation. Once or twice in the winter if you see signs would help your tree rebound sooner in the spring. They are sapping the energy from your tree. Good luck.

Barb

Definitely not Citrus Leaf Miner (as I am unfortunately an expert with this disease as it is rampant here in San Diego county, Calif.) It sure looks like spider mite to me. See the link below. If you click on the photo, you can see the leaves look identical to what you are showing.

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: UC Davis IPM - Citrus Red Mite

Thank you all so much for the diagnosis and helpful information. I never would've figured this out on my own, and had nearly given up hope. It never occurred to me that mites could be a problem this time of year, especially with the plants being indoors. I will pick up some fish emulsion/horticultural oil as soon as possible. Hopefully I haven't waited too long to treat this infestation.

Patty, that link you provided was more than helpful. Thank you.

Now to start killing some mites.