Why does your Citrus aurantiifolia have tiny black flies? Diagnose the cause and fix it with our step-by-step guide.
While not 'flies' themselves, black scale insects are small, dark, immobile pests that often attract ants and can be mistaken for tiny black moving dots. They secrete honeydew which leads to sooty mold growth on Key lime leaves.
These tiny black flies hover around the soil surface of the Key lime pot. Their larvae live in the moist topsoil and may feed on fine feeder roots, potentially causing yellowing leaves.
Adult fruit flies are small, dark-colored insects that lay eggs in developing Key lime fruits. If you see tiny flies hovering specifically around the ripening fruit, they may be targeting the citrus.
While the larvae are the primary issue, the presence of small flies can coincide with leafminer activity. These flies lay eggs in the leaf tissue, creating distinctive serpentine white trails.
Your plant might also be experiencing one of these issues:
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