Question
We have a potted lemon tree we purchased 2 years ago and have had a long learning curve with the tree and now it is growing numerous lemons and is flowering very well. We just now discovered a cottony growth around the stem close to the fruit. we took wet paper towels and wiped them off and inside there are small seed like things possibly eggs about 1/16 inch in length, and ants all around them. What is this and what can we do about them. We have the tree in a sunny location outside on our patio in southern ca near the ocean (1 mile) and the temp remains fairly constant year round at give or take 65 degrees

Answer
Hi Robert, Lots of critters like to attack our citrus.  Probably have some bug called cottony cushion and possibly some aphids which cause the ants to hang around your plant.    You can treat with an insecticidal spray, there a are different kinds in the nurseries to treat this type of insect.  You can go organically with Pure Neem Oil spray which does not wash off or hurt beneficial insects, and the ants do not want to walk on it. Atomic Grow which will make you plant healthy to repel the insects and keep it clean from pollution in the air.  A good airing outside during a rain will also make your plant very happy.  kathy