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mlevie

Lemon tree pest

mlevie
15 years ago

Hi everyone!

Something's been munching my lemon tree. It doesn't cause too much damage to the leaves, but once the flowers begin to fruit it inevitably chomps them, so in three years we haven't seen a single lemon.

It can't be anything too large because it's in a fenced area, and I put some netting over it and that didn't stop it.

Today I saw a couple of beetles on it and took this picture. I apologize, it's not the best. Could this be the culprit? If so, what should I do about it?

Thanks,

Matt
{{gwi:523422}}From Random pics

Comments (14)

  • calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
    15 years ago

    Matt your tree is being eaten by a pest with chewing mouthparts as evident from the chewed leaves. Have you gone out at night with a flashlight to see if an army of snails is climbing your tree? Al

  • eloise_ca
    15 years ago

    Last year I had a similar looking beetle on my brugmansias and boy they ate the leaves quickly and they also multiply very quickly. I forgot the name of that beetle, but it also looked similar to a cucumber beetle. Google cucumber beetle and see if they like citrus.

  • mlevie
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    They're definitely not cucumber beetles...can anyone identify? It's black, with a very flat back outlined in yellow. It's actually quite pretty.

    Al, I've seen snails on my artichoke but never on the lemon, and I've scattered slug bait with no results. Also, the damage to the leaves is actually very minor but the damage to the fruit is catastrophic. Don't many beetles have chewing mouthparts?

    Matt

  • debbysunshine
    15 years ago

    My citrus and lemon trees are old but always fruitful but last year all the flowers fell off, the leaves were yellow and many branches were dead. Don't know what did it but had plenty of ants and mealy bug diseases. Went to the nursery and they sold me a product Gardener's Choice fruit and vegetable 3 in one spray concentrate. There is such a turn around where the dead branches have new growth, lots of flowers and some fruits. Best thing is that there is no fungus. I've also been feeding with a citrus growers food this year instead of miracle grow for fruit and I think that is holding the flowers in place at least until all the birds knock them off. This might help you too..

  • erela
    15 years ago

    Has this lemon tree gotten fruit in the past?

  • calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
    15 years ago

    I am not sure your flowers are being eaten. To me it sounds like your flowers are simply falling off, or aborting. I would recommend you take a branch with what is left of flowers to your county UCCE extension office. A citrus specialist will look at the problem for you, no charge. Al

  • mlevie
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    OK, that sounds like a great idea, I'll do that. Thanks Al!

    Matt

  • hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
    15 years ago

    That looks like the Arizona fig beetle, which doesn't eat much. Mostly they just fly into things and mate. The grubs like to live in compost piles.

    Here is a link that might be useful: picture of Arizona Fig Beetle

  • jean001
    15 years ago

    Don't think so.

    Far too large to match what's in the OP image. Also, adults won't be out until later in the year in CA.

  • mlevie
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    I don't think it's the Arizona fig beetle, but I blame my horrific blurry photo. It's fairly small, maybe an inch long at most, and the carapace is very flat and jet-black, not iridescent. Around the edge of it is a bright gold line--actually, it's quite attractive.

  • mlevie
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    So if you're interested...I did take a branch down to the Ag Extension office here, and it turns out it has scale. And maybe more, but I'm going to start with that.

    Al, thanks for encouraging me to do that.

  • cyoshida_yahoo_com
    13 years ago

    hi, i have a 12 year old lemon meyer tree in my backyard/ san francisco, California. Does anyone know what might be causing a bark depletion on the branches? Something's eating or stripping the bark? not all, but 4 or 5 of the branches have white stripes from removed bark. I have not had this problem before and my tree is approximately 12 years old.
    thanks for any advice.

  • hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
    13 years ago

    sf lemontree, start a new message so folks can respond to you. I will respond as soon as you post your question in a new topic. This thread should stay with the original poster.

    Patty S.

  • fpanga_aol_com
    13 years ago

    My lemon tree is really blooming and some fruits have formed.
    Before. I see bees but not much now. But now, I saw about 6 of them. I believe they are beetles, night black on some flowers. They move very slowly but the leaves of my tree are not damaged.