Citrus Leaf Miners

[talerco]

Coastal San Diego.
Been battling citrus leaf miners.
I’d like to get an early jump attacking / preventing.
New growth small leaves in the last couple weeks (even with all the rain) have tiny green ball (eggs??) on back side of leaves.
I understand there are natural enemies that eat the miner large.
What are these? And do I spray or let them be?
In image you can see on purple back side of emerging leaf.
Thanks, David

 

[cpp gardener]

Those are aphids and can be sprayed off with a hose. Treat with Bayer Tree and Shrub insect control for the leaf-miners.

 

[Chuck]

Citrus leaf miners usually are just unsightly and cause no actual harm to your tree. A citrus leaf miner moth will lay a single egg on a leaf and when the egg hatches in about a week the tiny caterpillar bores his way to the inside of the leaf where he happily chews away on a single leaf. As @cpp gardener stated those things on the purple leaf are aphids and can be sprayed off with a strong stream of water or sprayed with insecticidal soap.