I posted about the same problem, and really only on my pears as far as tree leaves go. Mine's definitely a night feeder. I haven't done the flashlight thing, but judging by a nearby grape vine, I know I have cutworms there and apparently they can affect fruit trees! Who knew, lol? I'm treating for cutworms and I'll see if that does it. My pears are young (not many leaves/branches) and begin branching low to the ground, too. So cutworms could make sense in my case. I don't know if that helps you any, but maybe so :)

Oh thank you all so much!! Miss sherry, I only have one citrus tree actually planted in yard so far, it was here already and it's a Washington navel dwarf, and thought it was dead after all the freezes last winter and all the cats eating leaves,but recently a few shoots of new leaves started growing out from root, original tree (it's tiny) is all dead wood so idk what's going on with the new stems popping up, they are kind of on side right next to the "dead" stems. I need to plant something and get it established before I get bombarded with eggs next summer! Thanks for the coffee suggestions!! I always have coffee around so will try tomorrow!! Thanks again everyone!! So far looks like all of the cats are okay with the lime, had a few that wandered around for a few hours, I guess looking for lemon leaves. Lol, I had one 5th instar a while back, moved him indoors to feed him older satsuma leaves and leave new growth on lemon for the little cats, he had just molted into last instar, and anyway, moved him in, he didn't eat satsuma leaves or the orange leaves I tried and then he made his sling and pupated, never even purged, never ate one bite after molting last time, but he eclosed just fine and flew right off after a couple hours!! Guess he just didn't like change! �;-) I swear there must kit be a ctrr

I'll add that it's a BABY caterpillar! Just wait until you see what they grow up to be, lol! Of course, the bigger they are allowed to become, the more they will eat. These caterpillars, though disguised exceedingly well as a big gooey bird dropping, are a favorite treat of predatory animals (including wasps). I've not noticed that birds ignore them while they are still caterpillars...I guess that disguise works too well. However, once they pupate, birds really go after the chrysalises. I agree with Malcolm. Remove these insects by hand. They don't sting. And look for single, round, pearl-like eggs deposited on the upper side of leaves. They can be removed, too. I grow seedling citrus in containers strictly for the pleasure of watching the life cycle of the Giant Swallowtails. The gorgeous adults are plentiful in a blooming annual and perennial garden where they will nectar upon a wide range of flowers. Here is a link that might be useful: Just click for some neat pictures

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!