Pest ID?????????

8 years ago

Drats! Foiled again by pesky pests!

So, what is white, and fuzzy, and definitely NOT the easter bunny? A quick google search shows it could be wooly aphid, cushiony scale, or some type of psyllid secretion....or???? Im in northern Ohio 6a if that makes a difference.

The white fuzziness is only on one plant at the moment (a thornless key lime- which will make clean up less prickly) and located mainly on one lower branch, otherwise the tree looks healthy (I think).

My plan of attack is: isolate fuzzy tree, hose her down, and all plants (especially the fuzzy offender) are getting an HO bath after the sun goes down.

Not sure what the pest is or what I am looking for (besides fuzziness) to check other trees for signs of infestation. Thanks for help!

Featured Answer

Kelley_GA8a

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I’m not sure about the leaves, but the white stuff on the trunk looks like wooly aphids to me. If it’s during the middle of the day, I spray them off the with the hose. Otherwise, I use neem and it scares most of them off. Here are they on other trees:

here’s an adult I found on Google

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Comments (9)

tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
8 years ago
Could be white eplanthoppers. I have them on my plants. The nymphs are white in my case and they jump if you try to poke them. They create these white filaments looking things over a larger area. Wooly aphids do not move and they are usually in tight clusters and spread over a larger area. Insecticidal soap of horticultural oil should take care them. But since they are very mobile it is hard to eliminate them. In general they are just a nuisance unless there is a major infestation.

Check this out: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/348
Citrus Killer thanked tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
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Kelley_GA8a
8 years ago
Tropic, I just googled planthoppers and you are absolutely right!! I also have the adult versions on my trees. Thank you for setting me straight :)
Alanna Migliacci
8 years ago
My recommendation is to spray repeatedly for the rest of the summer. Make sure to hose them off regularly and regularly spray with HO, Neem or Insecticidal soap.
tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
8 years ago
HO, Neem, Insecticidal soap, alcohol, etc are all contact killers. Their effectiveness is very short lived as in minutes. Neem is a bit longer because of its azadirachtin content but that also breaks down quickly. They have no preventative purpose either. And all of do some damage to the plants. So unless there is a major or prolonged infestation, repeated use is not a good idea. A strong plant can withstand a lot of pest pressure. A weak plant, on the other hand, needs a lot of help.

This year for some reason planthoppers are more in numbers but I would not call it an infestation. Hosing is effective to cleanup their white stuff but those critters are fast and just jump off at the slightest provocation. Japanese beetles are way down. Some signs of aphids here and there. I have used alcohol spray once on 4/5 plants so far this season. I even prepared a gallon of HO early summer and have yet to use it. Probably need to make it fresh if I do need it.
Citrus Killer
Original Author
8 years ago
Tropicofcancer, yes, it was a white planthopper, I spied an adult one on the plant after I knew what I was looking for. I did a hose down, and HO that plant in case there were egg babies on it, and all is well in citrus tree land- for now....

Thanks for the help all!
dnedd1 zone7 LI NY
8 years ago
I had those on a grapefruit but I once found a variety if critters under the leaves it my other citrus living in harmony.
HOWARD Martin
6 years ago
if it aphids get lady bugs they eat aphids scale this isn't
HOWARD Martin
6 years ago
if aphids get lady bugs that feed on the aphids scale this isn't