Question
lemon infestation
Dr Vann,
my lemon tree has an infestation of black, semi circular growths all along the branches. when i picked some off it was all dry underneath. there are also a lot of ants running around them. what is this and how do i treat it?
your sincerely Madeleine.
AnswerMadeleine:
I do not recognize any sort of plant disease from your photo, however these structures may be insects such as aphids or scale. Aphids should move around some if disturbed or touched. Aphids are among several insects that produce "honeydew", a sweet form of excretement (poop!) that can attract ants. Sometimes leaves may even develope a black coating called "sooty mold" as a result of honeydew.
I am not sure if your tree is in the ground or a pot. It is best to get a more positive identification before you go and buy something. Snip off and carry a twig with these black objects in to your local garden center/nursery and get these folks to look at your problem. They then should be able to give you more accurate advise and suggest a spray of sorts.
Thanks so much for your question. It is always a pleasure to serve.
Steve
