Q. Last year we bought a
Myers lemon and planted it in a large pot. We got more than 30 lemons off this
little tree. I noticed a lot of sap near the base of the tree, then a bunch of
furry little things on the trunk and some branches. They scrape off easily. I’m
guessing they are the cause of the sap.
Myers lemon and planted it in a large pot. We got more than 30 lemons off this
little tree. I noticed a lot of sap near the base of the tree, then a bunch of
furry little things on the trunk and some branches. They scrape off easily. I’m
guessing they are the cause of the sap.
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| Cottony cushion scale on lemon |
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| More of the same |
A. You are right. This is
cottony cushion scale, an insect, on your lemon tree. Those little furry things
are homes to the scale insect. They live under those furry things where they
are protected from pesticides and predators.
cottony cushion scale, an insect, on your lemon tree. Those little furry things
are homes to the scale insect. They live under those furry things where they
are protected from pesticides and predators.
Once in a while they come out and build a larger, furry
home or find a mate. When they do, this is called their “crawler” stage, when
they are most vulnerable to pesticides and predators.
home or find a mate. When they do, this is called their “crawler” stage, when
they are most vulnerable to pesticides and predators.
What’s interesting are the ants that you didn’t mention.
These small, scale insects feed on the sugary sap inside the tree. While
feeding on this sugary sap, a sugary concoction comes out the other end which some
ants love.
These small, scale insects feed on the sugary sap inside the tree. While
feeding on this sugary sap, a sugary concoction comes out the other end which some
ants love.
These ants move these insects to new growth in the spring
where feeding is a lot easier than at the tough, woody base of the tree. In
these new locations, ants “herd” them like cattle and protect them from
marauders.
where feeding is a lot easier than at the tough, woody base of the tree. In
these new locations, ants “herd” them like cattle and protect them from
marauders.
From your picture it doesn’t look like you have very many
on this tree yet. Take some alcohol and a cotton swab and dab them off. If
there were lots of them you could spray horticultural oil several times during
the year, particularly during tree growth periods.
on this tree yet. Take some alcohol and a cotton swab and dab them off. If
there were lots of them you could spray horticultural oil several times during
the year, particularly during tree growth periods.
These oils suffocate
the crawlers and keep it from spreading while the older ones eventually die
off. Apply these oils three or four times during the year at times when
temperatures are cool. By the way, it also helps a lot to control any ants in
the area.