Something keeps tipping my citrus trees!

[MC]

Hi all,

I have a lime, lemon and orange tree that have been in the ground for a year
and evrytime they start to get a few new growing tips (and I get really
excited) they seem to get tipped by something?!

Hence, they are still very small and quite compact - my missus reckons they
were mis-labelled at the nursery and are dwarf varieties! LOL

The ground they are on is quite hard/clay type soil, so that doesn't help,
although I did dig the hole over quite well and planted with plenty of good
compost and mulch around the base.

Any ideas on what is taking the tips off the trees and/or how I can stop it?

Cheers,
MC

[jim]

"MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
...
> Hi all,
>
> I have a lime, lemon and orange tree that have been in the ground for a
year
> and evrytime they start to get a few new growing tips (and I get really
> excited) they seem to get tipped by something?!
>
> Hence, they are still very small and quite compact - my missus reckons
they
> were mis-labelled at the nursery and are dwarf varieties! LOL
>
> The ground they are on is quite hard/clay type soil, so that doesn't help,
> although I did dig the hole over quite well and planted with plenty of
good
> compost and mulch around the base.
>
> Any ideas on what is taking the tips off the trees and/or how I can stop
it?
>
> Cheers,
> MC
>
>
Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap out of
new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either spray
but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do it
the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and old
clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten them
they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of water
handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them, eventually you
will get them all, do a little bit each day.

[MC]

Thanks Jim,

I can't see any bugs AT ALL on the trees though?! I did have some leaf miner
issues previously, but I used Len's homemade white-oil and this seemed to
get rid of them.

You don't suppose that the white oil has reacted badly with the tree and the
tips have simply fallen off???

Cheers for any further suggestions,
MC




"jim" > wrote in message
...
> "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I have a lime, lemon and orange tree that have been in the ground for a
> year
>> and evrytime they start to get a few new growing tips (and I get really
>> excited) they seem to get tipped by something?!
>>
>> Hence, they are still very small and quite compact - my missus reckons
> they
>> were mis-labelled at the nursery and are dwarf varieties! LOL
>>
>> The ground they are on is quite hard/clay type soil, so that doesn't
>> help,
>> although I did dig the hole over quite well and planted with plenty of
> good
>> compost and mulch around the base.
>>
>> Any ideas on what is taking the tips off the trees and/or how I can stop
> it?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> MC
>>
>>
> Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap out
> of
> new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either
> spray
> but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do it
> the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and old
> clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten
> them
> they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of
> water
> handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them, eventually
> you
> will get them all, do a little bit each day.
>
>

[jim]

"MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
...
> Thanks Jim,
>
> I can't see any bugs AT ALL on the trees though?! I did have some leaf
miner
> issues previously, but I used Len's homemade white-oil and this seemed to
> get rid of them.
>
> You don't suppose that the white oil has reacted badly with the tree and
the
> tips have simply fallen off???
>
> Cheers for any further suggestions,
> MC
>
>
>
>
> "jim" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> I have a lime, lemon and orange tree that have been in the ground for a
> > year
> >> and evrytime they start to get a few new growing tips (and I get really
> >> excited) they seem to get tipped by something?!
> >>
> >> Hence, they are still very small and quite compact - my missus reckons
> > they
> >> were mis-labelled at the nursery and are dwarf varieties! LOL
> >>
> >> The ground they are on is quite hard/clay type soil, so that doesn't
> >> help,
> >> although I did dig the hole over quite well and planted with plenty of
> > good
> >> compost and mulch around the base.
> >>
> >> Any ideas on what is taking the tips off the trees and/or how I can
stop
> > it?
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> MC
> >>
> >>
> > Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap out
> > of
> > new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either
> > spray
> > but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do
it
> > the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and
old
> > clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten
> > them
> > they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of
> > water
> > handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them, eventually
> > you
> > will get them all, do a little bit each day.
> >
> >
>
>
It sure sounds like Harlequin bugs, they are hard to see when young as they
are the same colour as the leaves and as they mature they change colour. You
really have to look for them carefully.

[MC]

OK ... I will have another look tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

Cheers,
MC



"jim" > wrote in message
...
> "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
> ...
>> Thanks Jim,
>>
>> I can't see any bugs AT ALL on the trees though?! I did have some leaf
> miner
>> issues previously, but I used Len's homemade white-oil and this seemed to
>> get rid of them.
>>
>> You don't suppose that the white oil has reacted badly with the tree and
> the
>> tips have simply fallen off???
>>
>> Cheers for any further suggestions,
>> MC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "jim" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
>> > ...
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> I have a lime, lemon and orange tree that have been in the ground for
>> >> a
>> > year
>> >> and evrytime they start to get a few new growing tips (and I get
>> >> really
>> >> excited) they seem to get tipped by something?!
>> >>
>> >> Hence, they are still very small and quite compact - my missus reckons
>> > they
>> >> were mis-labelled at the nursery and are dwarf varieties! LOL
>> >>
>> >> The ground they are on is quite hard/clay type soil, so that doesn't
>> >> help,
>> >> although I did dig the hole over quite well and planted with plenty of
>> > good
>> >> compost and mulch around the base.
>> >>
>> >> Any ideas on what is taking the tips off the trees and/or how I can
> stop
>> > it?
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >> MC
>> >>
>> >>
>> > Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap
>> > out
>> > of
>> > new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either
>> > spray
>> > but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do
> it
>> > the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and
> old
>> > clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten
>> > them
>> > they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of
>> > water
>> > handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them,
>> > eventually
>> > you
>> > will get them all, do a little bit each day.
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
> It sure sounds like Harlequin bugs, they are hard to see when young as
> they
> are the same colour as the leaves and as they mature they change colour.
> You
> really have to look for them carefully.
>
>

[eurekaoz]

I'm currently having the same problem on my naval oranges with a brown bug
that is also having fun with my peach tree (and blends in with it bloody
well too).

I usually knock them into a bucket of hot water but have found that spraying
with homemade white oil kept them off the trees for about 5 to7 days. Not
really sure why, maybe the oil and small amount of detergent in the oil mix
made the tree surface unpalatable. The mix was a bit stronger than usual.


--
Chris

Subsido ergo sum. I lurk therefore I am.

<snip>

[MC]

I can't see any bugs at all ... do I need to get out the magnifying glass?
My eyesight is pretty good and I can't see any bugllies on the leaves at all

Cheers,
MC



"jim" > wrote in message
...
> "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
> ...
>> Thanks Jim,
>>
>> I can't see any bugs AT ALL on the trees though?! I did have some leaf
> miner
>> issues previously, but I used Len's homemade white-oil and this seemed to
>> get rid of them.
>>
>> You don't suppose that the white oil has reacted badly with the tree and
> the
>> tips have simply fallen off???
>>
>> Cheers for any further suggestions,
>> MC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "jim" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
>> > ...
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> I have a lime, lemon and orange tree that have been in the ground for
>> >> a
>> > year
>> >> and evrytime they start to get a few new growing tips (and I get
>> >> really
>> >> excited) they seem to get tipped by something?!
>> >>
>> >> Hence, they are still very small and quite compact - my missus reckons
>> > they
>> >> were mis-labelled at the nursery and are dwarf varieties! LOL
>> >>
>> >> The ground they are on is quite hard/clay type soil, so that doesn't
>> >> help,
>> >> although I did dig the hole over quite well and planted with plenty of
>> > good
>> >> compost and mulch around the base.
>> >>
>> >> Any ideas on what is taking the tips off the trees and/or how I can
> stop
>> > it?
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >> MC
>> >>
>> >>
>> > Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap
>> > out
>> > of
>> > new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either
>> > spray
>> > but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do
> it
>> > the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and
> old
>> > clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten
>> > them
>> > they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of
>> > water
>> > handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them,
>> > eventually
>> > you
>> > will get them all, do a little bit each day.
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
> It sure sounds like Harlequin bugs, they are hard to see when young as
> they
> are the same colour as the leaves and as they mature they change colour.
> You
> really have to look for them carefully.
>
>

[jim]

"eurekaoz"
ER.CASE.LEAVE.EVERYTHING.
ELSE> wrote in message ...
> I'm currently having the same problem on my naval oranges with a brown bug
> that is also having fun with my peach tree (and blends in with it bloody
> well too).
>
> I usually knock them into a bucket of hot water but have found that
spraying
> with homemade white oil kept them off the trees for about 5 to7 days. Not
> really sure why, maybe the oil and small amount of detergent in the oil
mix
> made the tree surface unpalatable. The mix was a bit stronger than usual.
>
>
> --
> Chris
>
> Subsido ergo sum. I lurk therefore I am.
>
> <snip>
>
>
It's a Harlequin bug, or stink bug, be careful as it shoots out a spray that
is acidic and stinks, it's dangerous to the eyes and not too good for your
skin either, and it takes forever to get the smell off. Wear old clothes and
rubber gloves and a pair of goggles for the eyes, use a pair of tongs to
grab the buggers and drown them in a bucket of water.
http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_1994.htm

[MC]

Thanks Jim,

I HAVE actaually seen that bug around the garden in recent months - but
usually up the front around the passionfruit vine, not up the back by the
citrus trees. I suppose they could get around quite a bit hey?!

Although i have seen 'em in my garden, I haven't seen any around the citrus,
so should I just get any that are in the vicinity and deal with them?

Cheers,
Mick




"MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
...
>I can't see any bugs at all ... do I need to get out the magnifying glass?
>My eyesight is pretty good and I can't see any bugllies on the leaves at
>all
>
> Cheers,
> MC
>
>
>
> "jim" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Thanks Jim,
>>>
>>> I can't see any bugs AT ALL on the trees though?! I did have some leaf
>> miner
>>> issues previously, but I used Len's homemade white-oil and this seemed
>>> to
>>> get rid of them.
>>>
>>> You don't suppose that the white oil has reacted badly with the tree and
>> the
>>> tips have simply fallen off???
>>>
>>> Cheers for any further suggestions,
>>> MC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "jim" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>> > "MC" <mcathomalidotcom> wrote in message
>>> > ...
>>> >> Hi all,
>>> >>
>>> >> I have a lime, lemon and orange tree that have been in the ground for
>>> >> a
>>> > year
>>> >> and evrytime they start to get a few new growing tips (and I get
>>> >> really
>>> >> excited) they seem to get tipped by something?!
>>> >>
>>> >> Hence, they are still very small and quite compact - my missus
>>> >> reckons
>>> > they
>>> >> were mis-labelled at the nursery and are dwarf varieties! LOL
>>> >>
>>> >> The ground they are on is quite hard/clay type soil, so that doesn't
>>> >> help,
>>> >> although I did dig the hole over quite well and planted with plenty
>>> >> of
>>> > good
>>> >> compost and mulch around the base.
>>> >>
>>> >> Any ideas on what is taking the tips off the trees and/or how I can
>> stop
>>> > it?
>>> >>
>>> >> Cheers,
>>> >> MC
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> > Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap
>>> > out
>>> > of
>>> > new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either
>>> > spray
>>> > but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do
>> it
>>> > the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and
>> old
>>> > clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten
>>> > them
>>> > they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of
>>> > water
>>> > handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them,
>>> > eventually
>>> > you
>>> > will get them all, do a little bit each day.
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>> It sure sounds like Harlequin bugs, they are hard to see when young as
>> they
>> are the same colour as the leaves and as they mature they change colour.
>> You
>> really have to look for them carefully.
>>
>>
>
>

[John Savage]

"jim" > writes:
>Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap out of
>new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either spray
>but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do it
>the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and old
>clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten them
>they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of water
>handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them, eventually you
>will get them all, do a little bit each day.

This is exactly how I'd describe the bronze citrus bug. Are you sure
that Harlequin bug is the correct name for the pest you are describing?
Bronze citrus bugs/beetles start off as tiny and green, as they grow they
turn orange, and in their mature winged state they are flat and about the
size of a Christmas beetle, but matt black and quite menacing-looking.
These can squirt acid when grabbed.

A grub that likes citrus tips is a black and white one which looks like a
bird turd on the leaf. I don't know what sort of butterfly it develops
into, but in the grub stage it can devour a lot of leaf in one night. You
will often find them under a leaf during the day, near a site of leaf
damage. Pick off and squash.

Aphids like the red/green tips of citrus, and can congregate there in such
numbers as to totally cover the new foliage. The OP should look closely
to see that these are not the source of the tip problem.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

[MC]

Thanks for the info John,

Actually, to my horror, I think I found some aphids this morning on the tips
of the lemon tree. There was such a quantity of them (little black things
that kinda looked like small ticks?!), that I decided it would be best to
pull the whole tip off (bugs and all) and I then crushed the bugs and placed
the tip and crushed bugs into the wheelie bin!

Was this the right course of action? I hope so!

Despite this find, I'm not convinced this is what has been taking ALL the
tips, as I haven't seen the aphids on my trees AT ALL in the past! (And the
trees are only small and I check them almost daily!)

Oh well, any futher ideas?

Cheers,
Mick







"John Savage" > wrote in message
om...
> "jim" > writes:
>>Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap out
>>of
>>new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either
>>spray
>>but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do it
>>the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and old
>>clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten
>>them
>>they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of
>>water
>>handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them, eventually
>>you
>>will get them all, do a little bit each day.
>
> This is exactly how I'd describe the bronze citrus bug. Are you sure
> that Harlequin bug is the correct name for the pest you are describing?
> Bronze citrus bugs/beetles start off as tiny and green, as they grow they
> turn orange, and in their mature winged state they are flat and about the
> size of a Christmas beetle, but matt black and quite menacing-looking.
> These can squirt acid when grabbed.
>
> A grub that likes citrus tips is a black and white one which looks like a
> bird turd on the leaf. I don't know what sort of butterfly it develops
> into, but in the grub stage it can devour a lot of leaf in one night. You
> will often find them under a leaf during the day, near a site of leaf
> damage. Pick off and squash.
>
> Aphids like the red/green tips of citrus, and can congregate there in such
> numbers as to totally cover the new foliage. The OP should look closely
> to see that these are not the source of the tip problem.
> --
> John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)
>

[Dave]

John Savage wrote:
> "jim" > writes:
>
>>Harlequin bugs are notorious for attacking citrus, they suck the sap out of
>>new growth and it withers. Hard buggers to get rid of, you can either spray
>>but need to thoroughly to get them as they hide under the leaves. I do it
>>the tried and true way. Firstly you need goggles and rubber gloves and old
>>clothes or overalls and a pair of tongs, (these bugs when you threaten them
>>they squirt and acidic and very smelly liquid at you) have a bucket of water
>>handy and when you catch them drop them in it and drown them, eventually you
>>will get them all, do a little bit each day.
>
>
> This is exactly how I'd describe the bronze citrus bug. Are you sure
> that Harlequin bug is the correct name for the pest you are describing?
> Bronze citrus bugs/beetles start off as tiny and green, as they grow they
> turn orange, and in their mature winged state they are flat and about the
> size of a Christmas beetle, but matt black and quite menacing-looking.
> These can squirt acid when grabbed.

The damage does sound like these (harlequin bugs are different- brightly
coloured and the most common one attacks cotton and its relatives, not
citrus). I am surprised you can't see any. Look closely for tiny
entry/exit holes, as you could have a tip mining moth, though I don't
know of one that attacks citrus. Other than that, I'm stuck
>
> A grub that likes citrus tips is a black and white one which looks like a
> bird turd on the leaf. I don't know what sort of butterfly it develops
> into, but in the grub stage it can devour a lot of leaf in one night. You
> will often find them under a leaf during the day, near a site of leaf
> damage. Pick off and squash.
>

That one grows into the citrus swallowtail butterfly- very attractive
beast, but a bit too voracious to leave on small trees.


> Aphids like the red/green tips of citrus, and can congregate there in such
> numbers as to totally cover the new foliage. The OP should look closely
> to see that these are not the source of the tip problem.

Cheers
Dave

[eurekaoz]

Nup not anything like the picture of the bug your link took me to. I'm very
familiar with those bugs the ones I'm having trouble with are different.


--
Chris


--
Subsido ergo sum. I lurk therefore I am.


<snip>
> >
> >
> It's a Harlequin bug, or stink bug, be careful as it shoots out a spray
that
> is acidic and stinks, it's dangerous to the eyes and not too good for your
> skin either, and it takes forever to get the smell off. Wear old clothes
and
> rubber gloves and a pair of goggles for the eyes, use a pair of tongs to
> grab the buggers and drown them in a bucket of water.
> http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_1994.htm
>
>
>

[John Savage]

"MC" <mcathomalidotcom> writes:
>Actually, to my horror, I think I found some aphids this morning on the tips
>of the lemon tree. There was such a quantity of them (little black things
>that kinda looked like small ticks?!), that I decided it would be best to
>pull the whole tip off (bugs and all) and I then crushed the bugs and placed
>the tip and crushed bugs into the wheelie bin!
>
>Was this the right course of action? I hope so!

The right course of action is ALWAYS DO A GOOGLE SEARCH before chopping! :-)

Everyone has their favourite aphid treatment. Mine is to spritz the tips of
roses and citrus with a mixture of 2:1 water and methylated spirits. The
aphids die instantly and the foliage is unharmed. If you wish, you can
5 mins after application hose the dead aphids off, but this is not necessary.

The usual recommendation is to spray the aphids with soapy water but I have
not tried that. Here's your chance to compare the two treatments.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

[Dave]

Try this one (bronze citrus bug):
http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_563.htm

I was not aware of the harlequin bug the other link pointed to- never
seen it- you learn something every day, I guess.

I was thinking of the cotton harlequin bug, which is quite different:

http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_1081.htm

Dave

eurekaoz wrote:
> Nup not anything like the picture of the bug your link took me to. I'm very
> familiar with those bugs the ones I'm having trouble with are different.
>
>
> --
> Chris
>
>
> --
> Subsido ergo sum. I lurk therefore I am.
>
>
> <snip>
>
>>>
>>It's a Harlequin bug, or stink bug, be careful as it shoots out a spray
>
> that
>
>>is acidic and stinks, it's dangerous to the eyes and not too good for your
>>skin either, and it takes forever to get the smell off. Wear old clothes
>
> and
>
>>rubber gloves and a pair of goggles for the eyes, use a pair of tongs to
>>grab the buggers and drown them in a bucket of water.
>>http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_1994.htm
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

[eurekaoz]

Not either of those two either, thanks anyway. I will try to get a good pic
with my digital camera and post it online somewhere and post the URL here.
But knowing me it could take weeks to do...LOL


--
Chris



"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> Try this one (bronze citrus bug):
> http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_563.htm
>
> I was not aware of the harlequin bug the other link pointed to- never
> seen it- you learn something every day, I guess.
>
> I was thinking of the cotton harlequin bug, which is quite different:
>
> http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_1081.htm
>
> Dave
>
> eurekaoz wrote:
> > Nup not anything like the picture of the bug your link took me to. I'm
very
> > familiar with those bugs the ones I'm having trouble with are different.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Chris
> >
> >
> > --
> > Subsido ergo sum. I lurk therefore I am.
> >
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> >>>
> >>It's a Harlequin bug, or stink bug, be careful as it shoots out a spray
> >
> > that
> >
> >>is acidic and stinks, it's dangerous to the eyes and not too good for
your
> >>skin either, and it takes forever to get the smell off. Wear old clothes
> >
> > and
> >
> >>rubber gloves and a pair of goggles for the eyes, use a pair of tongs to
> >>grab the buggers and drown them in a bucket of water.
> >>http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_1994.htm
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >