If it were my tree, I would apply an ISD (Imidacloprid soil drench); it kills what's in the soil and then enters the plant as a systemic/preventative.

Sorry I could not get sooner to thank you all for posting so far, but I had some internet connection problems. All seems ok though now! Thanks for sharing all of your opinions and even pictures!!!! Thank you Mike for the congrats! This year is my first pretty good year getting fruit on most of my trees, some for the first time. I had given them a plant light last year, along with a new fertilizer I found this spring, and that seemed to help. I still need to get a better light for them now that they are inside. I started a post a month of so ago, and got a lot of helpful info from you all (thanks!). I am just deciding whether I am going to keep them upstairs in the living area where they have always been when I bring them in every winter, or transport them down to the basement. If I do basement, I would go HID, but if I stay upstairs, the HID would be too much, so I would just need something to supplement. Even the cheapy GE plant spot light I got last year helped well compared to just window light, so I am sure if I moved up to something a little better, I will be able to keep my leaves, flowers, and fruit attached for the whole winter season. ANyway, so I am finally getting good fruit to grow after all these years of waiting and learning how to keep them happy while indoors for the winter. (oh, and another MAJOR thing I learned from here that helped was how to make good REAL container mixes for citrus). Although I did not think of this before until mksmth said so and mksmth is right, that the flowers are all white so far. I will check again over the next few days as they get bigger. A few should open up soon. I guess the last test will be tasting it. But I feel so happy that the tree got fruit for the first time, that I am waiting till the last possible moment to pick them because I am enjoying just seeing them on the tree finally! I am also wondering what would be the correct thing to make with the first lemons. I would like to make something special with them just because they are special. Any suggestions? LOL! I will keep this updated as the blooms get bigger. THanks again for all of the help! Christy

I would venture to guess it's black aphids. I used a formula I read on here and the orchid forum. From the orchid forum: "Growers that I trust use the following formula: 1 cup 409, 1 cup alcohol, 2 cups water." One formula said to use Orange 409 but I never found that one. I use the regular 409, and only use half a cup. It's worked on aphids on the Duranta and citrus, mealy bug and scale on the citrus, and mealy bugs on the orchids. Lots of bugs in the greenhouse this winter. Here is a link that might be useful: From the Orchid Forum

Is the bird allowed to roam freely in your home? If so, it could have shredded a few leaves. My friend's mom had a parakeet that they let out sometimes. When they weren't looking it often would shred the paper towel roll or a magazine. It didn't take long either, couple minutes of them not looking. It was like the bird watched them and as soon as their eyes were off it, zoom! shredding done, lol!