Citrus Gall Wasp Pest Control in your Garden

1. Citrus Gall Wasp
Citrus Gall Wasp
Many of our more persistent garden pests are not native to Australia but citrus gall wasp is
definitely an Aussie grown garden variety pest. Originally, this native wasp was limited to
Queensland and northern New South Wales and its preferred host was native finger limes. But
citrus gall wasp has rapidly adapted to the wider variety of citrus fruits now on offer. Since the
1990’s it has successfully migrated from Queensland, through NSW and can now be found as far
south as Melbourne where it is virtually endemic in the iconic back yard lemon tree.
What: Adult citrus gall wasps are rarely seen as they less than 3mm in size. The adults are poor
flyers but can be windblown from other citrus trees nearby. The adult
wasps mate in early to late spring when the female implants her eggs in
the citrus tree that she herself emerged from just days before. Often
the larvae are already present in newly purchased citrus trees in
spring. The wasp larvae grow within the soft stem tissue for 9 to 12
months until they too pupate and emerge as adult wasps the following
year.
Plants affected: All citrus especially lemons and grapefruit.
Damage Caused: The wasp larvae grow within the citrus stems until late summer when gardeners
start to notice unsightly galls appearing on their trees. These galls or calluses are formed in
response to the presence of the feeding larvae. Galls cannot be ‘cured’ or reversed. Old galls are
unsightly but are also empty as the adult wasp will have left through the tiny exit holes. Developing

2. galls can be removed but this may also mean the loss of developing fruit at the end of the infected
stem. Citrus gall is more damaging to younger citrus trees than older trees.
Control Methods: Controlling citrus gall wasp can be difficult but damagecan be minimised by;
- Avoiding high nitrogen fertiliser in spring as this promotes soft sappy growth – just perfect for the
egg laying stage. Feed trees in late autumn and early winter
instead.
- Removing all newly formed galls that don’t show signs of exit holes before the end of winter. Old
galls have already been exited.
- Hanging yellow sticky traps inside infected trees from mid-August to trap emerging adult wasps.
The yellow is an attractant and the sticky traps are impossible for the wasp to escape. Do not leave
on after November as the wasps are no longer about and you may inadvertently trap beneficial
insects and even small birds.
- Destroying infected stems by burning or bagging.
Photographs:
Pic 1, 2 & 3: Elaine Shallue, SGA