Not one, two or three! Far more types of pests settle on citrus plants! Some even don't shy away from the acidity of the fruit and nibble on it. Others, on the other hand, suck the sap of the fresh shoots. They are all dangerous.
Scale insects love citrus plants
vine weevil
If you notice nibbled leaves on your citrus plant, this species of beetle may be to blame.
- the adult beetle is about 1.5 cm tall and brown
- he shows himself and eats only in the morning and in the evening
- track and collect at these times
- the larvae live in the potting soil, where they eat roots
- they are up to 1 cm long, yellowish-white and curved
- Control is possible with nematodes
tips
Repotting a citrus plant is a good opportunity to inspect the old soil for vine weevil larvae, which are usually below the roots.
miner fly
The larvae of this species of fly live in the leaves, where they leave winding burrows. The tunnels have a silvery-white or yellowish color and are therefore recognizable from the outside. Initially, only the ornamental value of the citrus plant is affected. With a larger infestation, it is also weakened. You should remove heavily infested leaves, otherwise the larvae can be crushed inside.
scale insects
Scale insects cavort in the leaf axils or on the underside of the leaves. They suck plant sap and damage the citrus plants. If the infestation is small, collect the animals or wipe the leaves with alcohol. Then check the plants at regular intervals to see whether new specimens have hatched from eggs you overlooked. If the infestation persists, use a gentle remedy against the eggs.
spider mites
The approximately 1 mm large, red arachnids love warm and dry air. Especially if you overwinter your citrus plant in the living room, you should pay attention to the following:
- tiny silvery-grey dots/spots on leaves
- fine webs at the tips of the shoots
- small arachnids on the undersides of the leaves
- possibly withered or yellow leaves
An infestation in the early stages is fought mechanically by repeatedly rinsing the animals off the plant with a spray bottle. Otherwise, a biological control agent should be chosen for citrus plants.
snails
If your citrus plants are outside in the garden in the summer, slugs could become a problem. It's the fruits that have to believe in it, while the foliage doesn't seem to taste good to them. Collect the animals or otherwise take action against them.
Mealybugs and mealybugs
Mealybugs and mealybugs attack all types of citrus. They stay in the leaf axils and on the underside of leaves, where they are easily visible to the naked eye. Gather them up or wipe them down with denatured alcohol. Then check the citrus plant at regular intervals to see whether new specimens have hatched from eggs you overlooked. If the infestation is persistent, you must use a gentle remedy against the eggs.