Lemon Tree bark being eaten (forum)

Barrie starts with ...
Something is eating the bark of the lemon tree. I cant find any bugs during the day.Not only the soft green bark on the younger stems but also the hard brown bark.
On the same tree there are like growths with tiny holes in them- been there for a few years now. I have cut into these growths but cant find anything unusual inside. Maybe something is hatching that is eating the bark? Anyone suggestions?
thanks

Time: 19th August 2007 12:36pm

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About the Author Barrie
Melbourne
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brian says...
Hi again do you have wild hares or rabbits in your area, yes hares love the bark of fruit trees and again try nathalene flakes oe use neem oil when sprayed on makes insects and animals think its a nnem tree, totaly inedible to every known bug. and totALLY inert can also flood ground with it , which will be the same as using a systemic spray, regards brian.

Time: 20th August 2007 11:00am

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About the Author brian3
newcastle
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Kath says...
The growths with holes in them sound like citrus gall wasp. You should cut these out in the cooler winter months to break the breading cycle. They should be destroyed in a fire or removed from your site.
As it has been dry a many of our native animals are getting hungry and will chew the bark of both native and fruit trees. My swamp wallaby is blamed for all our back nibbling at home. I protect my fruit tree with a ring of chicken wire.

Time: 20th August 2007 3:56pm

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About the Author Kath
Cawongla
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Barrie says...
There are no hares or rabbits but maybe mice / rats? Found some droppings that could be a mice or rat.

What is Neem oil? How is it sold?
thanks

Time: 21st August 2007 9:16am

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About the Author Barrie
Melbourne
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Barrie says...
What does the citrus gall wasp do?

Is it too late to cut them out now?

thanks

Time: 21st August 2007 9:17am

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About the Author Barrie
Melbourne
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Kath says...
It would be worth cutting them out now, they will be hatching in the next few weeks if they have not hatched out already. They are a native Australian insect that would have naturally fed on our Australian citrus trees. If left on your tree they will stunt its growth and if there is enough of them they may even ring bark your trees with the galls.

Time: 22nd August 2007 9:29am

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About the Author Kath
Cawongla
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Barrie says...
Many thanks for your help Kath. I will remove them this weekend.

Time: 22nd August 2007 10:56am

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About the Author Barrie
Melbourne
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smokey says...
yes rats will also eat the bark of a lemon tree.

Time: 24th February 2008 10:03am

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About the Author smokey
san francisco, ca
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Ian says...
Interesting... today we went to pick the bush lemons off a tree, to find the lemon skins had been eaten, leaving the segments complete and exposed, still hanging. This was on about 20 lemons, with only 2 and a half being left with skins
Great if we only wanted the segments!
Is this rats, bats, possums, gliders ??

Time: 3rd September 2008 1:35pm

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About the Author Ian7
Brisbane Australia
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miriam says...
any suggestions on how to save badly ringbarked Mango trees
is this possum or wallabies?

Time: 11th October 2009 3:38pm

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About the Author miriam
Forster
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Frank says...
when rabbits have eaten the bark of a of trees almost ring barking them, how to seal off the scratched area ??? I have been told that painting the damaged area with liquid tar will seal the damaged area. Any other home made remedies ???

Time: 3rd August 2010 9:11pm

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South Coast
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Howard says...
I recently had the same problem with lemons eaten. How can this be prevented?
Thanks!

Time: 9th April 2011 5:28am

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About the Author Howard
Oceanside, CA
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Mary Ellen McDonnell says...
It's the bleeding rats. What should I do? I don't want to poison my poodle.

Time: 4th June 2011 12:43pm

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About the Author Mary Ellen McDonnell
Pacifica
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Mary Ellen McDonnell says...
Rats, Baby, rats. Should I sit up with the shot gun or put out the poison.

Time: 4th June 2011 12:45pm

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About the Author Mary Ellen McDonnell
Pacifica
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Brendan says...
Probably best to bait them.
If you do use the shotgun, use steel shot, that way you're giving the tree some iron! (just kiddin).

Time: 5th June 2011 7:22am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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