Our citrus trees are being attacked by hundreds of little flying bugs - they look like miniature cockroaches, about 2 or 3 millimetres long, light brown in colour, with a little reddish strip going across the back of the neck if you look very closely. They are eating all the new leaves off the lemon tree and a mandarine tree, and they seem to be starting on the broad beans. We have a few different insect eating birds around at the moment, but none of them seem interested in these little critters. Does anyone have any idea what these might be, and how to get rid of them?
I checked out citrus thrips and it definitely isn't them. A friend said they are Monoliptus bugs - and that you can get them by lighting a fire near the fruit trees in the evening. They are attracted to the light and fly straight into the flames harikiri style. Anyone heard anything about this? Anyway I'll try the fire in our portable barbecue and see what happens tonight. Peter
I google Monoliptus and found Monolepta australis. Is this what they look like: https://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_s/b_2615.htm
I also Googled Monliptus. Came back Monolepta. It's just one of those pronunciation or spelling errors.
Yes, that's them. Last night I burned the barbecue next to an infected mandarin, and today there are no monolepta on it, although some of the leaves got a bit browned. Other trees still have some, especially the lemon, so I will do the rounds night by night. Thanks for the help with the id-ing Peter
mystery bugs Hi Peter, the mono's are very destructive little devils, I've had them destroy 500 silverbeet plants in 24 hrs as they come in in their thousands. the fire thing seems to work ok , just depends on what crop you are trying to protect. In the case of citrus you have a bit of time up your sleave, when they hit my crop I had to react quickly so maybe neem as a deterent or if your desperate use pyrethrum spray( which knocks out everything so not the most desirable) I have noted a few about lately so keep a close watch on the plants, I you do move them please don't send them my way.good luck, cheers Fossil
