CLOSED: Bugs in my citrus leaves ?

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thenymph La Palma, Canaries, Spain May 26, 2009

I hope I've posted in the right place ?! I have small lemon and orange trees. The small fruits are dropping off and the leaves have a nasty bumps in them, with something under the surface. I have not seen this before in the two years we have lived here. Is this an infection of some sort ? Would be very grateful for some help as I don't want to lose the fruit this year. Have considered compost tea and tried a little, but would really like to identify what is going inside the leaves. Thanks in advance !

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Post #6600067
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV May 26, 2009

Have you cut into any of the 'bumps' to see if anything is living inside? There are several species of eriophid mites that can cause leaf galls, but I'm not familiar with any attacking citrus trees. Also, have you noticed any insects resembling those at
http://tinyurl.com/pp9ycs on your trees?

Post #6600166
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thenymph La Palma, Canaries, Spain May 26, 2009

Thanks suunto. I've had a look inside the bumps and can't see anything except a dry-ish white substance - can't see anything actually living inside. When I went to pick the leaves there were many ants crawling over them which are the only insects I have seen near them. I've posted a photo of the underside of a leaf.

They do look like leaf galls from the photos you directed me to. Any ideas how to deal with them ?!

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Post #6600276
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thenymph La Palma, Canaries, Spain May 26, 2009

I'm now looking at citrus gall wasp and researching how to treat it. Already found out that lemons in particular are susceptible but not too difficult to treat. Thanks for your help suunto, will mark as solved.

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