Question

My lemon plan is sticky around the base and the floor. It lives inside in a pot. Young shoots coming out and sometimes it gets flowers (no fruit).

On the leaves I have several brown spots and on the branches it has these very funny looking white items.

The white items are about 1cm long. The are brown for about a 1/3 on top. With the remaining 2/3 is white running in lines. Underneat it has a red 'belly'. They don't seem to move or be alive.

When they are opened up the things seem to be red inside with what looks like tiny seeds. Not nice looking.

I take the plant outside and with a water hose them off now and again but they come back.

Help please.

What are they,
What should I do?
What is the sticky stuff?


Answer
Hi Marko.. sounds like you may have a few things going on.  Sounds like mealy bugs, the sticky ones and scale the ones that are white with red.  What ever the case you will need to spray with an insecticidal spray to keep them off. We use Neem which absorbs into the leaves for protection or there are other sprays on the market.  If you haven't fertilized recently I would also do that, as your plant sounds very unhappy.  I would also keep it outside for awhile, not putting it in direct sun  after being in the house.  Let it get some fresh air and hopefully some rain on it.