We are alerting all residents with citrus trees of a new insect arriving in the Coachella Valley that may cause problems with all citrus trees in your landscapes. Citrus Leafminer 'Phyllocnistis citrella' Stainon, a potentially serious pest of citrus and some related ornamental plants.
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Adults of the citrus leafminer are minute moths (4mm wingspread) white w/black wing tips. Citrus leafminer is most easily detected by its meandering serpentine larval mine usually on the leafs upper surface w/ larvae located inside leaf mine.
The biology of this pest is a single egg is laid on underside of leaf by adult moth which hatches in 2-10 days and larvae enter leaves and begin feeding immediately. Cocoon development takes 6-22 days and adult moths emerge about dawn and are active in the mornings and evenings during this time eggs are laid and cycle starts over. Generations are produced about every 3 weeks.
Symptoms of infestation include: 1) leaves with serpentine mines 2) curling of leaves 3) silvery film over leaf mines 4) pupation chamber near leaf margin 5) succulent branches of green shoots may also be attacked.
Should you see any of the symptoms on your citrus trees as described above and you would like to be a part of our treatment program to control this insect in your landscape please call us at Arbor Tech Services / 760-322-2234 for an inspection of your citrus trees and a treatment schedule.
Regards,
Warren A. Miller
Certified Arborist #WE-2001A
Source:
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080130/GETPUBLISHED/801300345