First, here are a couple of scale insects, black and about 2mm-3mm acoss. From the rough H-shaped ridge this is probably Black Scale. Greyer or browner versions are apparently less mature females.
I go around knocking these off the plant. Quite often, the scale remains suspended from a short thread still attached to the plant stem - I think you can just see this thread in the photo. I don't know if the scale has the ability to use this 'safety rope' return itself to the stem. As the scale is disturbed, a puff of powder falls from it. As you can see in the next magnified close-up, these are the eggs. Again, I don't know whether these are now distributed and will hatch into the immature scale crawlers. Do they need the protection of the adult to survive? Do the crawlers hatch & survive in the ground, or only on the plant itself? Anyone know?
Now here are some fat, friendly, pink aphids. Fairly easy to dislodge, but reproduce fast on nice new growth.
Finally, I think this tiny slug-like creature is a predator eating the whitefly scales - or at least mopping up the honeydew from them. Anyone know what it is? Only found occassionally but always in the vicinity of whitefly eggs/scales.
Hope you all enjoy the pics!
Citrange/Mike.
