Plant guide:ð Lemon Tree
Back to Plant Clinic
â ModerateðĐš
Pests
Whiteflies on Lemon Tree
Commonly affects: Citrus limon (Lemon Tree)
Small white, moth-like insects fly up in a cloud when the plant is disturbed, with sticky honeydew residue and often sooty mould developing on leaves.
Potential Causes
- 1Whiteflies establishing on leaf undersides, particularly in warm, humid conditions
- 2Introduction from a nearby infested plant
- 3Dense foliage providing ideal shelter for growing populations
Solution Steps
- 1Use yellow sticky traps to catch and monitor adult whiteflies
- 2Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf undersides where whiteflies congregate and lay eggs
- 3Isolate the affected tree from other susceptible plants until cleared
- 4Repeat treatment every 5-7 days for several cycles, since whitefly eggs hatch continuously
Prevention Tip
Check leaf undersides regularly on citrus, since this is where whiteflies congregate, lay eggs, and are most effectively targeted with treatment.
