Need Citrus Advice STAT!!!

Tampa, FL(Zone 9a)

My citrus tree has developed sooty ash in spots (see pictures in links below).

WHat is the problem and how do I remedy it??

Thanks in advance...and please email your responses too as I will probably see the emails before the forum postings. Thanks again.

http://www.wilkc.com/Images/citrus1.jpg
http://www.wilkc.com/Images/citrus2.jpg
http://www.wilkc.com/Images/citrus3.jpg

casey
administrator@wilkc.com


This message was edited Saturday, Jul 21st 12:33 PM

Philadelphia, PA(Zone 6b)

Hi Casey,
I'm clearly out of my league concerning citrus trees, however, I came across this below which may be your problem. It looks like sooty mold fungus caused by either the citrus blackfly or possible a variety of scales which affect citrus trees. One of these insects is secreting honeydew, which in turn in causing the sooty fungus developing...I think.
Below are 2 sites which have the info and some remedies. Good luck and I thought I'd give it a stab :)
Trish
Citrus Blackfly— Blackfly adults have slate-blue wings with a median white band. The abdomen and head are bright red with white legs and antennae. The female begins egg laying 3-4 days after emergence from the pupae. Completion of a blackfly generation (egg to adult) requires about 60 days at 90°F; 75 days at 80°F; and 120 days at 70°F.

The blackfly feeds and develops on the leaf undersurface of all citrus varieties with a slight preference toward lemons. Other plant hosts for blackfly include: amngo, avocado, coffee, pesar, plum, pomegrante, guava, and ash. Blackfly nymphs extract sap from leaf tissues with their sucking mouthparts and secrete copioius amounts of honeydew. The honeydew serves as a growht media for sooty mold fungus that blackens leaves and fruit. Sooty mold fungus interferes with the tree's normal photsynthetic food production process. The combined effects on the tree of blackfly feeding and the associated sooty mold can result in serious fruit yield reductions.

Scales: UC Pest Management
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7408.html

Homeowner Citrus Problems
http://primera.tamu.edu/kcchome/homeowner/homeonerguide.htm#Melanose




This message was edited Sunday, Jul 22nd 1:33 AM

Philadelphia, PA(Zone 6b)

I posted it here for general knowledge but I also emailed you directly :)
Trish

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