What's eating my valencia orange?

Valencia oranges are highly susceptible to armored scale insects, citrus leafminer, citrus aphids, and whitefly. Scale is the primary threat. Horticultural oil sprays timed to crawler activity and biological controls are the frontline defense; avoid broad-spectrum sprays that kill beneficial insects.

Circular or elongated gray/red waxy shields on bark, leaves, and fruit; fruit discoloration, stunted growth, and branch dieback. Apply horticultural oil during the crawler stage in spring; introduce parasitic wasps (Aphytis species); avoid pyrethroid sprays that flare scale.

Winding silver mines through new flush growth; distorted, rolled leaves with a caterpillar or empty mine visible inside. Prune to manage flush timing; rely on parasitic wasps; apply spinosad to young flush only when infestation is heavy.

Sticky honeydew and black sooty mold on upper leaf surfaces; yellowing leaves; clouds of tiny white insects when foliage is disturbed. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf undersides; yellow sticky traps to monitor; encourage parasitic wasps.

Curled, cupped new growth; honeydew deposit attracting ants that protect aphid colonies from predators. Control ant access with sticky bands on trunks; dislodge with water spray; apply insecticidal soap for persistent colonies.