Help needed with Mango tree disease

13 years ago

Hi,

IÃ¢ÂÂm a new gardener in Ft. Lauderdale, FL (zone 10b), and am not having any luck with my Mango tree. I bought it from a nursery five months ago and was told to hold off giving it fertilizer till the spring. However, this week I took a close look at the leaves and they seem to have some type of bug eating them. WeÃ¢ÂÂre having a Rugose spiraling whitefly problem and itÃ¢ÂÂs really beating up my banana trees, but the Mango tree leaves have strange spots on the top and blisters on the bottom (See pics), which donÃ¢ÂÂt look anything like the white fly problems on the banana leaves.

Can anyone tell me what kind of bug/disease is on the leaves?

I've sprayed the leaves with Neem once, which didn't do anything, but I've read that I should spray every 7-10 days for it to be effective. Is it safe?

Also, is there a webpage for tropical fruit diseases for newbies anywhere?

Thanks

Keith

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Comments (8)

dangermouse01 (coastal central FL 9B)
13 years ago
picture in lower left, looks like scale (your "blisters"), and maybe some spiraling whitefly activity.

DM

Here is a link that might be useful: citrus scale
puglvr1
13 years ago
Yup, it looks like scale to me too...you need to treat with some insecticide maybe some soap and water or a light treatment of horticultural oil (HD or Lowe's)...but please be careful when you treat it...do it after sunset or sundown (not in direct sun) or you will sunburn the leaves. Keep in the shade for a day or two after treating...

Neem is good but its very slow to work...I've actually used soap and water and manually removed them with a soft sponge..its tedious work and works if the tree is small and you have the time and energy to do it,lol...

Good luck!!
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kkrobinson1
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for info and advice dangermouse01 and puglvr1.The tree is n my yard so it gets full sun. I'll spray the whole tree (top and bottom of the leaves) in the later afternoon so that it won't get any sun for 12+ hours

Keith
dangermouse01 (coastal central FL 9B)
13 years ago
If your tree is still small (and I am guessing it is), I would start by just wiping off as much of the scale from each leaf with a damp rag as puglvr1 mentioned. You could even use the soap & water or horticultural oil to dampen the rag, then you wouldn't have to spray. Dead scale doesn't necessarily fall off so by wiping them all off and starting with a "clean slate" you have a better visual of any new scale forming later.

DM
kkrobinson1
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks DM. I'll get to work this weekend. Any idea what the small white spots on the top of the leaf are? I've scratched some of them off with my nail.
puglvr1
13 years ago
My guess is the white stuff might be egg sacs?? You'll have to check them weekly and spray them with soap/water or treat it according to directions on the insecticide if you decide to use it, again making sure its not treated in the sun/heat of the day...

"Mango Scale pdf"
kkrobinson1
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Puglvr1,

I carefully cleaned every leaf and now spray it biweekly with insecticidal soap and the leaves are bug-free.

Keith
puglvr1
13 years ago
You're welcome and best of luck!!