Dwarf orange tree with bugs

[k4rynbr1]

Hello! First off I am new to the forum, thanks for having me and thanks in advance for your help. I moved from Michigan to Mississippi about a year ago. My Orange tree, about 1 year old at the time was doing well. It continued to do well here in the heat and humidity until about 3 months ago. I started noticing leafs browning and the edges curling back. Then the leafs started to drop. Thought I may be having a watering problem, even though I was doing the same thing I had been doing for the last two years. Long of the short, I repotted it with Miracle Grow Citrus and Cactus Soil again. When I did this, I noticed the root system seemed to be falling apart and dying. The tree has since stopped "dying", but not rebounding yet. Now I noticed some VERY small bugs (I have 20-12 vision and did not notice them until I saw them moving) but only in the soil. I am wondering if they are aphids? but I do not see them on the plant anywhere. The tree is in a 14" pot, well drained. The tree is about 18"-20" tall now and went from tons of leafs to 9 leafs. Looks quite sad. I have not seen all this covered in any of the threads yet and am hoping someone with a real green thumb can lend me some advice with what I am doing wrong all around; as well as ID my pests and how to kill them.

Thanks

Kevin

(pics of my bugs)

https://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad224/k4rynbr1/IMG_2109.jpg
https://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad224/k4rynbr1/IMG_2108.jpg
https://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad224/k4rynbr1/IMG_2104.jpg
https://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad224/k4rynbr1/IMG_2103.jpg

[Kisal]

They look very much like aphids to me. I would first use a garden hose to wash off as many as possible, taking care to get all the stems and both the tops and undersides of all the leaves. After that, I would spray every 7 to 10 days with a solution of pure soap and water, about 1 teaspoon of soap to 1 quart of water. Again, take care to thoroughly wet all the stems and both sides of all the leaves.

You have to spray periodically with the soap solution to kill any new bugs that hatch from eggs left on the plant. Four treatments should be enough to take care of all of them, but keep a careful watch for re-infestations. Aphids are very common. Also watch for ants, which sometimes carry aphids to plants.

Be sure to read the label on the soap you use, to be certain it is soap and not detergent. Detergents can burn the leaves of the plant.

Good luck!

[bonsaiboy]

They are what appear to be spider mites to me, as they seem to have 8 legs and a cephalothorax. A little more persistent than aphids, I would recommend the use of neem.

[k4rynbr1]

Thanks for the advice. I started using the soap/water as described, just waiting to see what happens. I am not familiar with neem? What is it and where do I get it?