Another Whitefly Species Invades South Florida

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As if there wasn’t already enough annoyance from whitefly species in south Florida, now there’s a new one for homeowners and pest control pros to deal with. The fig whitefly belongs to the family that also includes notorious pests such as aphids and mealybugs. Like its close cousins, this variety attacks hedges and ficus trees and does its damage by inserting needle-size mouth parts into the underside of leaves and sucking the life juice out of the plant. The most obvious sign of infestation by the fig whitefly species are wilting and yellowing of leaves, loss of leaves, stunted growth and eventually plant death.

An experienced pest control technician can usually confirm the presence of fig whiteflies by visual inspection. Eggs and nymphs may be noted stuck to the bottom of leaves. When foliage is disturbed, the tiny insects that resemble gnats may be observed scattering.

The best control methods for the fig whitefly begin with careful monitoring of your landscape. Infestations in the early stages are more easily neutralized before the population of whiteflies reaches critical mass and major damage is done. DIY application of consumer-grade insecticides may be effective at this stage. However, the treatment procedure requires considerable care and expertise to ensure that the bottom of the leaves are specifically targeted for application. Simply spraying vegetation randomly is ineffective.

A treatment plan by an experienced pest control provider will utilize professional chemicals. Systemic insecticides are usually selected for more comprehensive whitefly control than spot spraying and also pose less threat to beneficial insects. The ground surrounding affected plants is drenched at intervals.

Because whiteflies often develop resistance to a particular insecticide, chemicals may be rotated. Spraying may also be used as a secondary control method. Plants not damaged beyond repair will usually put out new leaves and recover from a whitefly infestation in a few weeks after professional treatment.

Haggerty Pest Services has been protecting Palm Beach and Broward County landscapes since 1975. Don’t wait until the damage is done. Call us to schedule an inspection at the first sign of infestation by a whitefly species.