What is Citrus Gall Wasp?
October 25, 2022
The picture above shows the trees response to a clutch of Gall Wasp eggs being laid inside the stem. It swells in much the same way your arm would if you had a bite!
Once the eggs hatch, over time this insect will weaken your tree.
Adult citrus gall wasps emerge from galls in Spring and are abundant for about a month from late October to mid-November.
How to prevent Citrus Gall Wasp?
Prevention is better than cure, so avoid heavily fertilising trees in spring, as it promotes excessive amounts of new growth which the adult wasp prefers.
You can also apply horticultural oil to prevent the female wasps laying their eggs.
How to remove Citrus Gall Wasp?
The only way to remove them is to prune the bulges out and either burn the stems or place in the microwave and blitz them.
You can put them in the bin but make sure they don’t make it into your compost or you won’t break the lifecycle.