Orange And Black Stink Bugs On Citrus...?

[aussie]

Considering the number of antipodian gardeners wafting the scent of gum leaves around the previous Lemon topic, I have high hopes of some good advice. These bugs are orange and flatish, around the size of a thumbnail, and there are also some which are larger and black. They both seem to extrude a spray which smells a bit like fresh coriander and stings your skin, and they have appeared in the last three weeks. They attack the young leaf shoots and buds on my lemon and lime trees, and seem to be sucking out the sap and making them wilt. I try not to use chemical sprays if I can avoid it, but I'm squashing them with a pair of barbeque tongs at the moment so if some kind soul has had any experience of successful control of these bugs, with or without sprays, I would appreciate hearing about their methods.

[Jack]

Gidday


Well I caint help you with that one mate. I sounds like it's a bugger that our aledged biosecurity hasn't managed to let in here yet.

[Wombat]

G'Day Aussie!

(Me again)

Yep I get 'em too, they are the bronze orange bug (orange = nymph; black = adult) I also use the impact method (but I use a pair of long nosed pliers). Keep an eye out for the ckusters of little round eggs on the leaves and squash 'em. I have read that a soft soap spray in winter keeps their heads down pretty well, but I haven't tried it myself!

Nev

[aussie]

I hadn't noticed any eggs, I thought they must fly in from somewhere, so that's a good tip, Nev. These, and above all fruitfly (not in SA or WA, I think) are something you sure don't need in NZ gardens, Jack.

[aussie]

I'm still squishing, Nev, but there don't seem to be any eggs. How big are they? Are they found on both the top and the underside?

[Wombat]

G'Day Mate!

They are small and round and while about 1mm diameter in clusters of 10 or a dozen. They tend to be glued to the underside of the leaf. They are easy to miss!

Nev