CLM got our orange tree and key lime tree, but somehow our rio red grapefruit escaped these pest. like you spring flush no CLM but the last 2 monthes, every new leaf has worm damage. I hate these guys!!!

The key issue is to start treatment at the first flush; you don't see them, but they are there in small populations. If you wait until you see the damage... usually the second flush... it is too late for that year. Keep it in mind next year and Spinosad should minimize the damage.

Well, depending on where you are in the USA, you may not see leafminers until mid-summer. My trees are fine until mid-July, so I start spraying in early July to protect the trees. Don't wait until you see them or it's too late. Don't worry, just fertilize very well and you'll see lots of new flush soon. Be sure to keep spraying through about October. They can slow down the growth of a new tree if the pest load is high, but your trees will recover.

Patty S.

Thanks for the replies! I will keep on top of them from now on. Ive spents so much of my time and energy on my Blueberry plants that Ive neglected my citrus but I will stay on top of it. Thanks again for the input!

dont cut off the messed up looking leaves, they can still photosynthesize and help the tree produce energy. since you're in zone 9, there's a good chance of another flush of growth before winter.

since your trees are small you can inspect them by hand and use your fingernail to scrap off the little 'worm/larva' and squish it. i use spinosad on new growth, then if there's still CLM i scrap them and squish them.

Im in south Houston, Seabrook to be exact. What part of Htown are you in???

Grapefruits tend to fare better because the flush is not so tender as the other citrus. Same thing for the Asian citrus psyllid (vector of HLB); if you release the ACP in front of a mixed citrus grove, they will first go after the lemons; later the oranges and mandarins; and last the grapefruit and pommelos.

Glad I found this thread. My new growth on all 4 of my orange and lemon trees have sever minor damage. All new growth leaves are deformed and make me nervous. Any suggestions to a first time grower in the woodlands, Texas?

Glad I found this thread. My new growth on all 4 of my orange and lemon trees have sever minor damage. All new growth leaves are deformed and make me nervous. Any suggestions to a first time grower in the woodlands, Texas?

Great! Found my answer on "deficiency or pest" thread. Looking for a trustworthy website for buying Spinocide and Bayer products? Think I'm going to be a regular on this site!

i'm over in the Katy area.

you can by Greenlight Spinosad at Lowes. they carry two similar looking bottles of Greenlight, make sure to look at the active ingredient, it'll have Spinosad.

make sure to spray during the first flush, it'll be pretty early in the year for us, early/mid March.

Thanks Houston. Hoped you'd respond. Tried looking at your profile. You're near home, so I can relate to your responses I've been seeing around. I looked at HD yesterday for ten minutes, they are right by the house. But of course it would be at my favorite Lowe's! Thanks so much. Second flush just happened this month. Can I still spray? It looks so bad on the new growth.

Hey all...now that I see your pics of Miner damage I'm thinking...those look a lot like my leaves. I will get better glasses and reinspect for those wicked boogers on the undersides of the leaves. Is Neem effective?? I thought it was...
h

Spinosad mixed with either Neem or Volk oil works well, but remember, you need to apply BEFORE you see damage. You will stop further damage, but not correct existing damage. Stary your spraying program early. For those in the Gulf states, you'll have spring and later summer issues with CLM. For those of us in AZ and CA, we only have later summer issues. I start spraying in early to mid July, and that takes care of the issue. I spray every 3 to 4 weeks until about November. If your temps exceed 85 degrees, you'll need to skip the hort oil, as it will fry your leaves. You may then need to spray every 3 weeks with just Spinosad.

Patty S.

Thanks Patty. I am headed to Lowes to find Spinosad. I got 2nd flush now, all seemingly with Miner damage, as well as 1st or 2nd blooms. I try spraying top and bottom of each leaf but I have about a dozen plants and lots of leaves. If I don't get the bottoms of each leaf am I lost??

you need 100% coverage, top and bottom to kill off all the moths when they land on the leaves to lay their eggs, and also when the larvae hatches out it'll come in contact with the spinosad as it tunnels into the leaf.

you'll kill off some of them but not all. you can spray again in a week or so to try to knock out the newly emerging moths.

Thanks again Patty. I drenched the plants yesterday. Sprayed top and bottom, as best I could, then rubbed many leaves, I'm sure not all, on the bottom to try and spread the Spinosad. It may have rained overnight so I am going to re-apply late this afternoon. Then again in 7-10 days.
I do appreciate your (and everyone's) help.
h

My established trees I don't worry about them and in a way I think they help control the size of my trees.

Spinosad was the trick. This round of new leaves is perfect! I will sure remember this trick in the early summer next year.

It appears everyone goes for the insecticides right away. If any of you guys or gals are trying to grow without insecticides, as im currently doing, consider using pheromone traps.

Ive used some traps myself (im in San Diego, CA area) for the leafminer, this company ISCA makes an excellent lure. The lures Ive set out this summer pretty much lasted the entire summer the sticky traps have been saturated with leafminers its quite interesting to see and best of all my seedlings saw little to no damage!

Please consider alternatives to insecticides, I say that as an amateur beekeeper and hobbyist grower.

I'm in Houston, too. Do you listen to Garden Line on 740 AM on Sat/Sun mornings? The host recommends spraying once a week with Spinosad, and the following week alternate with neem oil. Keep this up through the leaf sprouting season. Spray in the evening after the bees have left if your citrus is blooming. My lemon tree leaves are a real mess, but it must have 200 lemons on it, so the leaves are still photosynthesizing.

Also in Houston...

Got the Miners too.
All but one of my branches has been pruned by the CLM. I only used neem oil and the last flush (a single leaf) is suriviving. I will go for the spinosad as well.

Just started listening to 740AM.
What is the wet stuff coming from the sky...