B. Texas Citrus Mite [Eutetranychus banksi (McG.), family Tetranychidae] is another major pest. Its main damage is to leaves, but fruits may be infested as well. Heavy infestation is indicated by a graying of the leaves which lead to defoliation. Populations increase in warm, dry weather. Adults are 1/70 inch long (0.36 mm), yellow to dark green in color, with dark blotches on the back down each side. Greater numbers are found on the south side and top of the trees. Eggs are disc-shaped and are usually laid on either side of the midrib and branching veins.

C. Citrus Red Mite [Panonychus citri (McG.), family Tetranychidae] A long established pest of California and Florida citrus, this mite first invaded Texas in 1980. Larger than the Texas citrus mite, it is characterized by a globose red body with prominent tubercles from which arise reddish bristles. Eggs are spherical and bright red, and have a central stalk with fine threads radiating from its top to the leaf surface. Red mites feed mainly on foliage, causing chlorosis and defoliation. Damaging infestations can develop during mild winters.

D. False Spider Mite [Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) and B. Californicus (Banks), family Tenuipalpidae] may appear in orchards if not specifically treated for. They infest the whole tree starting on the inside canopy. The pest causes spotting (Leprosis or nail head rust) of fruits, especially on grapefruit. Adult mites are 1/100 inch (.26 mm) long, flattened and slow moving. Legs are pale red and body red to purplish in color.

E. Avocado Brown Mite [Oligonychus punicae (Hirst), family Tetranychidae] are found primarily on the upper leaf surface along the veins. They produce a brownish discoloration, which may eventually cover the entire leaf. Heaviest infestations are found along roads, where dust on the trees appears to favor mite infestations. Severe infestations can cause defoliation.
 

B. California Red Scale [Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), family Diaspididae] is the other major armored scale found in Texas. These infest the entire tree but are most common on leaves and fruit. The insect beneath is bright yellow in color. The scale's armor has a reddish cast and is circular with a distinct central peak or nipple. The male is 1/4 the size of the females. Fruits may be already infested when less than 1 cm in diameter. Effects of infestation are the same as those of the Chaff Scale. California Red Scale also attacks olive trees.

D. Cottony Cushion Scale [Icerya purchasi (Maskell), family Margarodidae] Populations often build when beneficials are reduced. Heavy infestations leads to reduced tree vitality. The body of the female is reddish brown, and legs and antennae are black, but this color is often masked by mealy wax. The female is hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive organs, which is rather unique among insects. A waxy fluted ovisac, one on each female, in which over 1,000 eggs may be deposited, causes the tree to appear as if covered by snow. Unfertilized eggs, which are rare, produce functional males, fragile looking dark red with grayish wings.

E. Black Scale [Saissetia oleae (Olivier), family Coccidae] is the major olive pest in California, it is also a citrus pest in Texas, Florida and California. Adult females are brown when young and become black when mature which are 2 to 5 mm long and nearly hemispherical, with a plainly visible elevated ridge resembling the letter "H" on their back. Black scale eggs are 0.2 to 0.3 mm long and light colored when first laid, becoming pink after 2 or 3 days. A few days before hatching they become reddish orange color, and nymphal eyespots become visible within the eggs. The first-instar nymphs, called crawlers, are 0.3 to 0.4 mm long and pale yellow to light brown, with dark eyes. The nymph's first molt is in 3 to 8 weeks. The second instar nymphs are 1 to 1.3 mm, long and the "H" becomes distinct. The nymphs migrate from the leaves to twigs at this stage. Chemical control is more effective against these stages than the next stage which is the immature adult and the adult stage.

Monitoring consists of selecting 10 trees in each area. Count the number of adults on the terminal 18 inches (45 cm) of 10 branches on each tree. Sum the numbers of black scale in each 10-branch sample and divide by the number of branches sampled to determine the infestation level. There are four levels: light (0 to < 1 per branch), moderate (1 to 4), heavy (4 to 10), and severe (>10). Light and moderate levels usually do not cause damage, but heavy and severe infestations require attention. Thinning the trees and pruning to open the canopy plus dormant oil sprays are recommended.

 F. Other olive scales are Olive Scale, Latakia scale, and Greedy Scale.

G. Citrus Mealybug [Planococcus citri (Rissa), family Pseudococcidae] and related species tend to favor the stems and buttons of trees, especially grapefruit. They may also congregate where fruits touch one another. Attacked fruit change color earlier in the season, fruit may drop and productivity is lowered. They copiously excrete honeydew. The insect body is distinctly segmented, about 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) in length, covered with powdery wax, with the appearance of "having been rolled in flour". The females have antennae and legs, and are active throughout the linesman. They form an ovisac consisting of interwoven waxy fibers and resembling a light cottony mass, into which they deposit several hundred eggs (oviparous species) or first instar larvae (ovoviviparous species). The males form a whitish cottony cocoon.

H. Long-tailed Mealybug [Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni-Tozzetti), family Pseudococcidae] a soft oval, flattened species attacking new scion growth on grafted avocados and citrus, destroying small tender foliage.

B. Mexican Fruit Fly [Anastrepha ludens, (Loew), family Tephritidae] is sometimes a problem with late fruit. Adults begin migrating from Mexico during late December or January after which quarantine regulations go into effect for certain interstate shipments of fruit. There is some question as to whether the flies can survive under Valley summer weather conditions. Larvae cause breakdown of the fruit either on the tree or after harvest.
 

B. Tropical fire ant [Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius), family Formicidae] is a major citrus pest. These pugnacious ants inflict painful stings to orchard workers who step unsuspecting on their mounds (colonies) made up of loose soil on the orchard floor. Devastating to young citrus, fire ants feed undetected beneath the freeze protectant tree wraps, and girdle the trunks and introduce Phytophthora parasitica (foot rot fungus). Fire ants also attend aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies for their 'honeydew' and kill or drive off beneficial insects and mites — thus, interfering with biological control.

C. Red imported fire ant [Solenopsis invicta Burren, family Formicidae] has recently invaded the Lower Rio Grande Valley and is beginning to replace the tropical fire ant in Texas citrus orchards.