Citrus psyllid
Tiny sap-sucking insects on new citrus shoots that cause curled leaves and can spread greening, a serious incurable disease.
Also known as: Asian citrus psyllid
Symptoms and identification
New shoots and leaves are twisted and curled. Small mottled brown insects sit with their bodies tilted at 45 degrees, and the yellow-orange nymphs produce white waxy threads. Shoots may die back.
Causes
Psyllids feed and breed only on soft new growth, so numbers rise with each flush of leaves in spring and the monsoon. They also feed on curry leaf plants.
Organic treatment
Prune and destroy heavily infested shoot tips. Spray neem oil or horticultural oil on new flushes every 7–10 days.
Prevention
Inspect every new flush of growth. Avoid overfeeding with nitrogen, which causes repeated soft flushes, and buy citrus plants from disease-free nurseries.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
Use an insecticide labelled for citrus psyllid on new flushes, following the label.