Small eggs underneath Okra leaves

[Lauren]

Hi everyone,

I have a collection of tiny translucent (white) eggs on the underside of my Okra leaves. I am quite confused as to how they got there as I have always kept the Okra in my mini greenhouse because of the hot conditions they prefer, where I have never seen any insects. I have many other varieties in the mini greenhouse but the eggs are only found on the okra. They are very spaced out, with one egg every 1cm or so, with anything from 2 or 3 to 15 eggs on each leaf (approx 3 inches square).

Does anyone have any idea what they are? I have just sprayed the plants for blackfly so this may well get rid of them. Pics could be supplied if it will help.

[DavidT]

Pics please Lauren.

[ginger]

I have exactly the same problem, so my spirits lifted when I searched and found this thread...Gaah!

The lower two (first) leaves have browned and died, but the rest of the plant seems happy (I've never grown okra before) enough for now.

I've scraped off the 'eggs' now, if they return I'll get some pics up.

[ginger]

Case solved!

After some internet smurfing I found the answer, so am popping it up here in case it's helpful to others.

Turns out they're not eggs at all, but (generally considered) harmless excretions from under the leaves. Apparently other plants in the same family do this too.

Here's a pic I found that show them:

Aah, OK, struggling to embed pics, here's the link:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CRN2DTkafs.../okra_sap2.jpg


I guess the dying lower leaves are unrelated.