What's eating my mandarin orange?

Mandarin oranges are attacked by citrus leafminer, scale insects, citrus aphids, and mites. Leafminer is especially prevalent on mandarins' frequent soft flushes. Control relies on horticultural oil for scale and mites, insecticidal soap for aphids, and natural parasitic wasps for leafminer.

Silvery meandering trails on new leaves; leaves roll and pucker; weakens new growth flushes which mandarins produce frequently. Limit excess nitrogen to reduce flush frequency; allow parasitic wasp populations to establish; spot-treat severe flush with spinosad.

Encrusted bark and fruit with waxy bumps; honeydew drip causes sooty mold; heavy infestations stunt growth and reduce fruit set. Horticultural oil sprays in spring and summer crawler periods; prune out heavily encrusted branches; protect natural enemies.

Tightly curled, puckered new leaves; honeydew and sooty mold on foliage; ants farming aphid colonies on young shoots. Sticky trunk bands to exclude ants; strong water spray; insecticidal soap for heavy populations.

Silvering or bronzing of fruit skin giving a 'rust' appearance; no direct fruit damage but reduces marketability and fruit size. Apply sulfur-based miticide or horticultural oil early in the season before fruit color development.