I have small circular tan colored eggs on both my lemon and mandarin trees. They are on mostly new growth, with only one egg per leaf. I noticed a small mosquito looking fly that was a reddish color hanging out on the plant and trying to buzz me away when I get up close to it.

What could this be?

I found 2 very small grub-caterpiller like things on 2 of the leaves. It was also tan colored.

There was also this cocoon type thing below one of the eggs, between the leaves.

pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62291708@N06/5755860932/
click"older" to see all 5.

Please help, what is it?

I also have small tan colored eggs on new growth. It does not seem to damage the leaves so not very concerned. These eggs always appear on new growth.

they are the eggs (and cats) of a giant swallow tail butterfly. Those beasts can eat new growth in no time! If you want your citrus to grow, you need to remove both eggs and especially caterpillars.

I don't see eggs, but the caterpillars you see are orange dogs. They eat citrus leaves.

The leaf color on kmw11187's tree are a very light yellowish green. Unless it is just the camara, the tree is way under fertilized. - Millet (478-)

Orange Dogs and Swallow Tails are two different things correct?

I thought the OD's were limited to central FL?

While planting my Fall/Winter garden today I watched a ST systematically hit almost everyone of my trees. I'm sure she is responsible for the leaf damage I've been seeing. Does anyone know how long it takes from hatching to cocoon? I can tolerate some ST cats and I know the birds will get most. The birds eat lots of bugs.

How does the ST overwinter?

I have twenty eight trees and she just kept going from tree to tree for about two hours. It appeared she was making sure each tree had the proper load count of eggs. I also noticed she did not lay a single egg on my two Meyer Lemons. She examined both of them thoroughly but never laid any eggs. Maybe she'd already loaded it! LOL I don't think so though as I have not seen any eaten leaves on them.

Orange dogs are the caterpillar stage of Swallow tails. No they are not limited to FL, I fight them all summer long.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_swallowtail

Thanks Laaz,

The link answered my questions. I have only seen the "bird poop stage" earlier this year so I'm assuming the birds are doing a decent job!