What's eating my grapefruit?

Grapefruit is among the most scale-susceptible citrus, particularly to armored scale and mealybug. Citrus leafminer, whitefly, and spider mites also attack. Grapefruit's large leaf surface makes it attractive to many piercing-sucking pests. Horticultural oil and biological controls form the primary defense.

Dense gray or purple encrustations on branches and fruit; bark dieback; fruit discoloration and drop under heavy infestations. Horticultural oil sprays timed to crawler emergence; Aphytis parasitic wasp releases; avoid broad-spectrum insecticides.

White cottony colonies at shoot tips and leaf undersides; honeydew promotes sooty mold; stunted new growth. Neem oil or insecticidal soap directly onto colonies; introduce Cryptolaemus predators; control ant access.

Mines in new flush growth; distorted and curled leaves; reduces photosynthetic capacity of young shoots. Limit nitrogen to control flush timing; rely on parasitic wasps; spinosad spray on active flush if needed.

Stippled, bronzed leaves; webbing in severe cases; premature leaf drop and reduced fruit quality. Apply horticultural oil or approved miticide; avoid dusty conditions; overhead irrigation deters mite buildup.