Insect problem......treatment suggestions please

13 years ago

Below is a photo of a leaf from my Kaffir lime which is somewhat infested with some insect. Could anyone give me an identification on the insect and what I should do?

Thanks in advance!

Tanksalot

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:641283}}

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Comments (9)

thisisme
13 years ago
Looks like the handy work of the Citrus Leafminer.

Here's a link to a good article on how to get rid of them.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Kill Citrus Leafminer
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Do Citrus Leafminers even survive our winters in doors?

I would be very happy to know that..I have never had them, and pray to God I never do, but I have bought some trees with prior damage from them, especially if the tree is shipped from a southern state....I just pluck the leaves off.

Is it possible that it is the damage done from previous occasion and you are just noticing it at this time because you are examining your trees? Is this recent damage while in your care for sure?

Tom, have you ever actually seen the pest? All I can see is the damage.. Can you take a picture of the pest itself and not just the damage?

If you do not see the actuall pest, it could be something else like spider mites, very common for this time of years indoors...They suck the moisture right out of the leaves..
If you do not have a magnifying glass, I would get one as soon as possible..
This will be your next lifesaving tool, next to the wooden dowel.

Mike:-)
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Heruga, please do not take offense!! And we are not calling you a liar. What we are trying to convey to you is a need to step back a bit and not to panic or overreact. Plant pests are a fact of gardening life. You will never eliminate them all..........nor should you necessarily, as that will upset the natural balance. But they can be managed and often they are best managed by doing very little. Or as little as you can get away with. Sometimes it is just a matter of providing the best growing conditions. Aphids are often attracted to plants that develop a lot of lush new growth from overly rich soils or unnecessary fertilization. Sometimes just growing the plants under leaner or somewhat harsher conditions will significantly reduce the risk of infestation. I will say that in all my many years of gardening, I have never seen aphids actually kill a plant, even very heavy infestations. Spraying down the plants routinely or cutting off the most affected parts (generally the newest growth) does help a lot and will keep populations at manageable levels. And encouraging beneficials or other wildlife to the garden will also make a big difference.........IME, birds are nature's most efficient "insecticide" and the more birds you can attract to the garden, the less pest issues you will you have to deal with. The point we are trying to make is that all gardeners deal with the various issues you have encountered and yet their gardens survive and even thrive. Drought, heavy or persistent rainfall, cold winters, very hot or dry summers, insect problems......we have ALL encountered them and our gardens have lived to tell the tale. What more years of experience gardening will provide is the knowledge of what is a serious problem that needs intervention (or plant replacement or substitution) and what you can safely ignore or treat as innocuously as possible. And the vast majority of us tend to steer away from heavy pesticide usage as we have learned that it upsets the natural order and very often can cause more problems than it solves. And added years of experience will often influence what sort of gardening choices you make. Some plants are just a lot harder to keep happy or are more prone to problems (like indoor citrus) so you need to weigh whether or not the plant justifies the effort. But please take the advice provided by very experienced gardeners not as a criticism but with the good intentions with which it is given. Yes, 50 years of gardening does bring one knowledge, experience and wisdom that just a couple of years doing so does not provide. It is obvious from your posts that you still have much to learn - we are just trying to help you get there :-) And even very experienced gardeners learn something new on almost a daily basis!!
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Stan
Original Author
13 years ago
The problem came in with some trees that I picked up at Four Winds, primarily on one tree. Possibly I'm over-reacting, and just snipping off the affected leaves is probably the easiest solution. Considering how many leaves I've swept up over the years, CUTTING one off isn't easy.

Tanksalot
Stan F.
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Hi Stan...

I am sure it is not at the present, leafminer, not from where you purchased it nor our native area, could be, but most likely not....
Trees from Four Winds always come shipped clean, pest free, and inspected...This I can assure you, although I ahve had a couple of leaves look like that and just plucked them off..

I am glad you are making sure it is not leafminer..One needs to make absolutely sure of the pest hurting their plants before a treatment is applied..

From the looks of the leaf, it looks like previous leafminer damage, but I am concerned as to why the leaf looks so dehydrated..
Was it plucked for awhile before you took the picture?
If it is a fresh leaf, then I would assume some kind of insect is sucking the moisture from your plant...
I would certainly get a magnifying glass and inspct closely..
Also, it could be that you are undwer watering or over watering the tree and the roots are not taking up mositure do to damage correctly..

Don't panick what ever you do..If there is a problem, you can fix it..
We are here for you..

Mike:-)
thisisme
13 years ago
It looks like a classic Citrus Leafminer infection to me. No doubt as to what it is. You can't see the pest because its inside the leaf. While in its larval stage it hollows out the inside of the leaf which it uses both for its home and its food. Mike is right however. If there are only a few leaves affected you may be able to get rid of them just by plucking the leaves assuming there are no mature adults and no eggs present waiting to hatch.

Here is a link that might be useful: Citrus Leafminer pictures
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Wow..If this is the case that you are sure you have citrus leafminer. pleas call Four Winds asap!! That is a very first for me! Please let them know..

Here is their number: 1 877 449 4637 and specifically speak to Maryjane..ok I know her..If this what you have, they will take care of that right away and direct you on what to do..

In the mean time, pluck the infected leaves..I wish someone would come here and tell us if they are able to survive our homes during the winters, especially in cool rooms, or are they just a southern bug..Andrew returned his tree back to a nursery he got his from..

I wish you all the best..

You should also post this on the "pest and disease" forums and I guarentee you that Rhizzo or Jean will give you the best advice possible, since they frequent there more than here..Specifically ask for them to help you..They are very kind and knowledgable..

Mike
kerry_2009
13 years ago
Citrus leafminers are tiny worms that tunnel in the leaves, making them unsightly, but they rarely reach numbers sufficient to impact fruit production, and are pretty easy to control. You can control them directly by squishing them in their tunnels, or by removing affected leaves. I prefer to use the least toxic methods available for any pest issue. An organic product made with the biological, Spinosad is available from Monterey Chemical.

Here is a link that might be useful: Monterey Garden Insect Spray
meyermike_1micha
13 years ago
Thank you Kerry for this information...It is awesome to know that they are not as a big deal and can easily be controlled..

If only Andrew knew this before he panicked...

I love the fact that you have recommended an organic one too..Very thoughtful and appreciated..I am sure Stan and many others will love to hear this..:-))))

Although I never had an issue with one pest from Four Winds, I guess their could be a one in a million shot.

Thank you

Mike
thisisme
13 years ago
If no one checked the link I provided here is the list of treatments for Citrus Leafminer.

Step 2: Choosing a Treatment
There are a few treatments that are effective in controlling citrus leafminer. All are organic and natural, and non-toxic to the environment.

Neem Oil

Neem Oil is produced from the fruits and seeds neem tree. It controls many insects, and can be used for household pests as well, due to it's non-toxic nature. Neem oil is also effective in controlling fungus, such as the black sooty mold that plagues citrus during warm weather.

Neem oil should not be used by pregnant women, women trying to conceive, or children as tests show that it produced infertility in rats. Neem oil is used in Ayurvedic medicine, but is not recommended for long term use.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil3

Spinosad

Spinosad (spinosyn A and spinosyn D) is a natural insecticide derived from a naturally occurring soil dwelling bacterium. It must be ingested to be effective, which is what makes it effective in controlling citrus leafminer. It is relatively fast acting, and there is seemingly a 100% kill after 1-2 days.

It is highly toxic to bees should not be sprayed where bees are foraging. Beneficial Trchogramma and Braconid wasps are harmed by Spinosad, but it seems to have no effect on other beneficial insects, such as lacewings. It is much less toxic after drying.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinosad4

Dormant or Agricultural Oil

Sometimes called "Summer Oil" or "All Season Oil", these are simply oils that are formulated to disperse into water for spraying purposes. These oils kill by smothering the insect. Not all agricultural oils can be used on all types of plants, so make certain you have the proper oil for your use.

Homemade Oil/Soap Mixture

A homemade mixture of 1/3 cup Murphy's Oil Soap to one gallon of water is an inexpensive and effective insecticide for many insects.

Insect problem......treatment suggestions please

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Insect problem......treatment suggestions please

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