Citrus Growers Forum

dauben · Posted: Sat 05 May, 2007 3:09 am

Just out of curiosity, do termites ever much on citrus trees? I've never had a problem, but I thought maybe the trees natural properties ward of termites. I did have a problem on a peach tree I had once nearby my citrus. That tree died, but the citrus trees all seem to do fine on their own.

Phillip

Millet · Posted: Sat 05 May, 2007 2:33 pm

Philip, are you sure that your peach was eaten by termites. Peaches are frequently attacked by Peach Tree Bores, near the base of the tree. - Millet

dauben · Posted: Sat 05 May, 2007 11:38 pm

Millet wrote:

Philip, are you sure that your peach was eaten by termites. Peaches are frequently attacked by Peach Tree Bores, near the base of the tree. - Millet

The tree may have died of something else, but it was full of subterrianian termites in the rootzone. It's common for our area, but all of my citrus trees ward them off. Is there d-limonene in the wood of the tree or just in the citrus. I remember when I worked in the pet industry, d-limonene was the cure all for everything.

The funny thing is, I'm currently in Riverside visiting my sister. She asked me what her peach trees died of. I see little bore holes all over them. I wonder if it is the tree bores you mentioned. I'm trying to convince her to take some of my citrus trees off of my hands to replace her peach trees.

Phillip

P.S. I never made it to UCR. They had a BBQ this evening so we're getting a late start. I guess I could pick citrus in the dark to avoid the campus police, but the kids will probably need to get to bed sooner than later. Smile

Malcolm_Manners · Posted: Tue 22 May, 2007 3:35 pm

In south Florida, termites are sometimes a problem on newly planted trees in areas where native pine forest has recently been removed. Other than in that very specific situation, they don't seem to bother citrus here.

In Nigeria (where I've done some citrus consulting), they have a nasty species of termite that bores tunnels up through the bark, sometimes high into the tree, doing a lot of damage, and providing easy entry for phytophthora, which then rots the bark, killing or severely damaging the tree. But I've never seen that sort of thing in the Americas.

Ned · Posted: Thu 24 May, 2007 12:39 am

Phillip, There are ambrosia beetles that attack peach trees as well as other boring "Shot Hole" type beetles. I have had them get into my muscadines. I believe the vines had suffered freeze damage prior to the beetle problem, and I have read that they are more inclined to attack trees that are in poor condition. This might be what you observed on your sister's tree.

http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg211.html