Strange growths and bug type on calamondin orange - Ask Extension
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I have a calamondin orange tree that recently stopped blooming after several weeks. I noticed clear, hard growths in strange shapes (pi...
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Strange growths and bug type on calamondin orange #866873
Asked May 03, 2024, 10:50 AM EDT
Good morning
I have a calamondin orange tree that recently stopped blooming after several weeks. I noticed clear, hard growths in strange shapes (pic) and fine, twine like squiggles as well as a dark bug, larger than any mite or aphid I've seen before. I remove all I found and Neemed it today quite well. Any idea what the clear stuff is, or if it is related to dark bug? I've killed about a half dozen over the past week.
Thank you!
Clark County Ohio
Expert Response
Jerilee,
Sorry for the delayed response.
I would not be too concerned about the translucent shoots - it appears that they are growing out of the stems - perhaps roots, if your tree is root bound in its container. You could test this theory by taping a small baggie of moist potting soil around one or more of the shoots and see if further roots develop.
However, scale insects are one of the major pests of citrus plants. Your photo is a bit too blurry for me to positively identify the insect. You could send another photo or take a look at this webpage and see if any of these scales look like your insect:
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7408.html
Most life stages of scales are not mobile, so if these are moving around, another photo will be necessary to see what else they could be.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Sorry for the delayed response.
I would not be too concerned about the translucent shoots - it appears that they are growing out of the stems - perhaps roots, if your tree is root bound in its container. You could test this theory by taping a small baggie of moist potting soil around one or more of the shoots and see if further roots develop.
However, scale insects are one of the major pests of citrus plants. Your photo is a bit too blurry for me to positively identify the insect. You could send another photo or take a look at this webpage and see if any of these scales look like your insect:
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7408.html
Most life stages of scales are not mobile, so if these are moving around, another photo will be necessary to see what else they could be.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
