white paste on TOP of mandarin leaves

11 years ago

I saw posts for white stuff on the underside of leaves but this stuff is on top of the leaves on my plant. I've tried googling it but can seem to find out what it is there no scales and it doesn't appear to be an aphid. also a couple of leaves with what appear to be on or two sprinkles of pepper. I noticed the pepper sprinkles about a week ago and now this goop appeared this morning. was not there yesterday. also new leaves are growing but the ends turn black and wilt away. its a young tree so I don't know if it is supposed to have fruit yet but I noticed very tiny balls of what I thought would have grown into fruit but are brown and dried out. please help.

ps there were three leaves affected by the white stuff, I cut them off and after taking a photo I burned them in case it was some sort of egg as I didn't want it to spread. I also have a 7 foot lemon tree but I don't think it's affected yet.

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Comments (6)

krismast
11 years ago
It looks to me like it is some sort of moth cacoon. In that case, if I am correct, you might be able to just pick the cacoon off. Regarding the fruit, if it is a young tree, the fruit does not always reach maturity. Sometimes it just falls off. It's a natural response because the tree might not be quite old enough yet to handle fruit production.

Kristopher
jean001a
11 years ago
Likely a spider "house"
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
The curious amongst us want you to dissect these things....now! Put a couple of the most promising leaves in the freezer for an hour or so (after inserting them in a plastic bag) and gently pull them apart with with toothpicks or similar....if you don't want to use your fingers.

Then, take pictures.
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
11 years ago
There's just a simple something pupating in there- rub it off with your fingers and go on about your day.
Nature is fun- don't be scared :)
Not every bug is a catastrophe requiring incineration.
jean001a
11 years ago
Nothing pupating there. Certain spiders make hide-a-ways like that.
Mzshante
Original Author
11 years ago
well those leaves have been destroyed, rhizo and I haven't seen anymore since. If I do I'll do as you suggest.