Leaf ID help - sticky

8 years ago

I found ONE sticky leaf on one of my lemon trees. I see no trace of scale, whiteflies, and the only webs I’ve seen go from tree to tree like those of a real spider, not to mention, there were no webs near this leaf. It is sticky in the one spot. This tree does not have lots of foliage (it has lost a few leaves) although it is blooming. It has always been a bit weaker (it is my Bearss lemon). I cannot figure out where the sticky stuff came from. Could it be just nectar from a bloom? I have been routinely spraying my trees with a dilute solution of neem, HO, rosemary oil, and pro-tekt to prevent/control any pest issues, but I am worried. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, and I’m fairly certain that the mouse I caught and freed, came right back in and moved into the same pot!!! So annoying. I think it may not survive the next capture....

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Susanne Michigan Zone 5/6

8 years ago

Laura I have the same problem. I think it is scale. They are moving scales and not easy to detect. Did take me a while to see them. Smaller and much lighter in color then the hard scales. Drove me nuts already. I start the systemic rosmary today. Because everything is to tight, I'm sure i transported them already to every tree with my cloth.

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Tropical Paradise
8 years ago
Scale or aphids...
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Laura LaRosa (7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
That’s what I worried about. Thanks guys. I will start the systemic rosemary today also, but will spray thoroughly as well. I just see nothing of them...very frustrating!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
"Could it be just nectar from a bloom? "

Yes, it could. If only on one leaf and just a spot on that leaf, a nectar drip is a very possible explanation.

That doesn't mean I would ignore keeping a close eye out for any insect pests but if you see nothing obvious and the stickiness doesn't spread elsewhere, chances are quite good is nothing more sinister than that.
Laura LaRosa (7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you gardengal. That gives me some hope. I looked carefully at every branch and saw nothing...definitely not aphids. The tree is definitely blooming in many areas, so let’s hope it is that. It also does not have new growth which is what they target anyways, right? Scale does worry me more but again, I saw nothing. Regardless, I have just sprayed that one and all my other trees with neem, HO, the rosemary systemic, pro-tekt, rosemary EO, and FP ;). I will do it again in a few days. I would do it anyways, but even with more urgency now.
Susanne Michigan Zone 5/6
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Well, I saw some nectar from the oro blooms but it looked more like big droplets not like sticky mist. That is when I started to hunt them scales. Laura look next to the big leaf middle rib. They seem to be smaller and light colored, almost translucent. Your best bet is to look to the leafs that are above the sticky. But no guaranty as they seem to be moving around. I will try to take pics if I find some again. In the meantime started to clean the sticky stuff of as not to get this black fungus
Laura LaRosa (7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
I removed the entire leaf, but that’s the funny thing, there are no leaves directly over that one. I need to look again thoroughly with a magnifying glass.
Susanne Michigan Zone 5/6
8 years ago
Laura I searched again and yes some of the leafs have sticky residue and no leaf on top and why I think those scales must be mobile. They are in different sizes too.Found one and I hope you can see in the picture? It is the white dot at the middle rib of the leaf toward the stem. This is the first year I see them on my trees. Guess it came from a nursery.
Laura LaRosa (7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
I just looked over that tree again and I see nothing else that looks weird. I will keep looking though.
tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Happens to some of my plants too and never found a good explanation. Citrus seems to display this first with or without blooms. I usually ignore it unless I find real evidence of pests.
John 9a
8 years ago
Not to be gross but maybe the mouse....well....that would be sticky too after it dried a bit.