Thrips. Sometimes a problem, sometimes not.

This may be of some help to you
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/citrus.html

Here is a link that might be useful: citrus at UC IPM

Thanks for the info! I took an even closer look and they do fit the citrus thrip description.

Are there any well known safe/natural ways to get rid of them, or should I just use whatever bug killer I can find?

In that same article it gives you all kinds of remedies on this pest for management...Look about half way down under the title, 'chemical control'..

I'll link you....Warning, treatment of buds can cause severe damage to them dependent on what you use and when..

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Thrip control

This post was edited by meyermike_1micha on Sun, Mar 2, 14 at 12:13

My bad... followed the link from my phone, must have missed the chemical control section. I'll jump on the computer and take a closer look.

Yes, Mike is right!! Please be careful of what you spray the blooms with, I lost all my blooms last year because I sprayed with a Hort. oil for (insect killer) and didn't have a single lemon this year...mine are blooming now so I'm very watchful of what I use. I did find this product from Home Depot by Ortho and its the only one I found that says "wont' harm plants or blooms".

If you can wait till the petals falls off and actually see little fruits on them, that would be best to spray...

I'll put the link below...You can always call or email Ortho to be sure.

Hi Mike!! great advise :o)

Here is a link that might be useful: Ortho® Flower, Fruit & Vegetable Insect Killer

Looks like thrips. I had the same problem a few weeks ago. Ordered some spinosad from amazon (monterey brand) did one treatment and soaked completely with a hand sprayer.... all gone =)

by that, I meant that thrips are all gone... my buds and lemons are still plentiful!

Good to know Spinosad worked very well for you and did not hurt the buds/blooms :o) Thanks for letting us know winstella.

Will be using that stuff on my Citrus for Leaf Miners soon!