How to treat Citrus Leafminers

If you’ve ever owned any citrus trees you may have come across the citrus leafminer. These pests are fairly common in California and can wreak havoc on young, developing trees.

Leafminers do not affect the citrus fruit but will burrow into new leaf growth.

There are several ways to treat Citrus Leafminers, the best of which are preventative measures. Monterey Citrus Leafminer Pheromone Traps can be used to monitor the moth’s activity in your area. If you find any moths in your leafminer traps the next step would be to treat your trees with a preventative oil spray. A good example would be Neem Oil or Horticultural Oil.

These oils are effective for up to a month and will need multiple applications a year. When spraying your trees be sure to also spray the undersides of the foliage, as this is where most pests like to hide.

If you have a leafminer infestation it is time for an active response with a Spinosad spray. Our recommended sprays containing Spinosad are the Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew and the Monterey Garden Insect Spray.

For more info on both measures check out our Citrus Leafminer Info Sheet.