Hello Beetle,
Are these white bugs on the plant leaves or do they fly around?
First, isolate the citrus immediately. Mealy are disasterous, terrible bugs..Why fly, which are tiny flys that will infest all plants in your house. But mealy is worse.

You are one of many who has complained about using Neem and encountered problems..what happened when you used it?
I've never tried Neem, so I can't speak for the stuff, just what I hear.
But several ppl say their leaves dried out after use of this product. Again I can't say..did you follow container directions?

If you have white fly, go to www.gardensalive.com and buy Sticky Traps..these traps are amazing. they catch bugs and the traps are reusable.

For mealy, using rubbing alcohol and cotton balls or cotton swabs, moisten swab or cotton ball, then rub over infested area.
But before doing this, I'd take to sink, sprinkle dish soap over leaves, kneed leaves, then rinse..then go over w/the alcohol. This should be done 2-3 times per wk.

Are the leaves changing color on any of the plants? Can you describe bugs in better detail..

Welcome to GW and Happy New Years..Toni

Thank you for the follow up!
The bugs are white, and hide in the corner of the leaf and stem..they turn dark when i spray them with a 50/50 alcohol solution, and seem to die.
I did follow the directions on the neem, and lost a beautiful satsuma a while back..was very bummed.
The leaves are robust and beautiful, and has fruit and buds..and the other plants are fine as well.
I cant see any damage whatsoever.
The Tree is about 5 feet tall, and about 3 feet wide, and she is just a joy...
I just got her, and was wondering when she should be repotted as well..I am not sure i trust the soil she was packed in.
Thank you again...any help from here?

Beetle, do these bugs move around? Do they leave a white, cottony patch? something u can scrap off?
If so, this is mealy bug. They are disgusting critters, and please keep this plant away from others.
If the plant is infested, can u take back to the nursery and ask for another?
Can you place this plant in a shower? or hose off? It's big, that's for sure, but you need to hose those buggers off.
Otherwise it sounds like a lovely tree. You should also change the environment..dry air and wet soil= bugs, even though the plant came w/pests. Bugs do not like humidity, so if you can add a humidifer it'll help rid them. ALso, if you have a rotating fan, to circulate air this will improve the environment..something they detest.
I hope you rid these bugs cause your tree sounds wonderful. Did you get it at a local nursery?

Well, normally when a plant has bugs repotting is a no-no, but if you have the space to remove plant, hose off while citrus is out of soil, use fresh soil, (well-draining) and either use a new pot or clean the original it should help. But do so carefully..repotting is stressful and if it has bugs the poor plant is going through he&& right now. You don't want it going into shock. Do you understand what I mean?
Of all bugs, mealy are the worse. Remember to isolate this plant from all other plants, citrus or not. How many white spots do u see on this tree? Toni

there are several bugs, and yes powdery..i can fit it in the shower i think..will that suffice?
also..if i move it..it wont get the southern light..or much of any unless i use a grow light..can that work?

Beetle, I'd shower it once then use the rubbing alcohol afterwards..but like I said, this will have be done 2-3 times..do NOT spray alcohol directly on leaves.
I'd keep in the south window, artifial light won't be enough. Or, if you can use lights and a west window, that'll do fine. Is this possible?

Beetle, you say this stuff is powdery..but does it look like cotton..could the powder not be an insect but instead a residue of something you sprayed?

Do you see bugs moving around? Oh sheesh, I detest insects.

I'd try the fish emulsion, Beetle. Also go to www.gardensalive.com They sell many products to rid insects. This is where I bought STicy Traps. they work fantastic..don't know if they work on mealy bugs though, and don't want to lead you in the wrong direction..I'm going to go through my package and see if they menteion mealy. They work great on flying bugs like white fly..Beetle, I've about 400 plants and 2 winters ago my plants contracted whitefly..I was devestated..No matter what I did those things just multipied. I got a 20.00 certiciate from GA, went to their site and found these traps..never heard of them before that..I swear on my life, these things were amazing..I used one on several plants, per room and they died..You should have seen how filled up the traps were.
I[m going to check on GA and see if they mention mealy bug..You need to get started ASAP..Mealy is the worse of bugs..Do you have a pic of your citrus? Toni

Safest treatment for mealybug is strong water spray. I have used neem on Satsumas, Meyer, Key Lime, Calamondin, Washington Navel and Kumquats without problems. Some people add a tsp of liquid dish soap, and this can be problematic, as some soaps have detergents which are phytotoxic. I now use baby shampoo instead.

Sticky traps will not help with mealybugs and they really won't do much for whitefly either. They are primarily used for monitoring whitefly and other flying pest populations.

I'll have to try the baby shampoo next time or if my plants get buggy. How much do you use per say 16oz bottle of water?
I wrote to Gardens Alive asking if the traps would benefit ridding mealy, but they've not yet replied. I don't think they'll work either, but as I stated, it was a suggestion, which is the reason I wrote the company. Toni

Well, I showered the tree..and let it enjoy the humdity of ther shower for several hours..then took a Q-tip and alcohol to any remaining nasty's that were sucking the life out of my beautful lemon tree, and so far she seems to be fine.
I thank you all so much for the help..and so does my tree...I would like to post a pic of her, but dont know how yet..
Beetle

Beetle, if you can shower again, do so...also, continue using the alcohol until all mealy is extinct. I'm sure your tree loved the shower..does it look perky? Toni

Hello!
Yes she loved the shower...she is perky as can be reaching for the ceiling..I'm so glad I got her out of the infested home she had..I have written the nursery and informed them of the bugs..hopefully they will take action to prevent more infestation. I have several limes, mandarins, and lemons from them, all without bugs..so I will not give up on them entirely.
If you have an email addy, I could send a pic or 2 if you like?
I am jasoncyganowski@yahoo.com
Thanx again!

Jason, my addy is hopefulauthor@sbcglobal.net Or you can click on my name, and you'll see Send Email..You can also check out my pics of citrus if you'd like by clicking on my name..
I'd love seeing your pics, too..Toni