whitefly in ficus trees

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Since the end of August 2007,  at the Extension office have been receiving calls from concerned people about
ficus plants turning yellow and dropping their leaves. A new species of whitefly has been found infesting these
plants.
Description and Damage: The leaves of ficus trees infested with whiteflies begin to turn yellow before the
leaves drop, often in large quantities. Ficus trees without their leaves are one of the most obvious symptoms of a
whitefly infestation.
Host Plants: Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) . This plant is commonly used for hedges and seems
to be the most susceptible host. Other species of ficus that are hosts:
- banyan trees (F. altissima and F.
bengalensis)
- strangler fig (F. aurea)
- Cuban laurel (F. microcarpa)
- banana-leaf fig (F. maclellandii) Defoliated hedge
- fiddle-leaf fig (F. lyrata)
This species of whitefly may eventually be found on other species of ficus. To see if your ficus is infested, look on the underside of the leaves. Immature whitefly under magnification, underside of leaf
The underside of leaves may have silvery-white tiny spots. These are the old skins of the immature
whiteflies. The adult whitefly is small and flies when your plant is touched.
They look like tiny, white moths.
Management (for homeowners): Monitor your ficus plants for the early signs of an infestation
since it will be easier to manage the pest at this stage. If the plant has yellow leaves or has
dropped all the leaves, it is too late to apply any insecticide. Wait until new growth is evident and
use a soil applied systemic drench (see below).
On smaller plants:
- Insecticidal soap spray
- Horticultural oil spray (Ultra-fine oil, Organocide, Sun Spray, Neem oil, and others)
The above 2 products may be effective, but, thorough coverage of the undersides of the leaves is
especially important. It will also be necessary to repeat these applications every 7 to 10 days.
Spray late in the day to avoid burning the foliage.
For hedges and larger ficus:
- imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control; commercial products
are Merit® and CoreTect™), dinotefuran (Spectracide® Systemic Tree & Shrub Insect
Control), or thiamethoxam (commercial product Meridian™) applied to the soil.
These products are very long-lasting, lasting many months, but can not be used near
water. It is usually NOT necessary to REPEAT TREATMENT within at least 6
months of application.
If a large number of ficus shrubs, a long hedge, or large trees need to be treated, commercial
products may be less expensive.
When applying pesticides, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS
Defoliated ficus may still be alive. If the twigs are still supple, the plant will produce new
growth in a few weeks. As soon as new growth is evident, one of the systemic insecticides
mentioned can be applied to the soil to protect new growth.
To slow down the spread of this pest, do not remove ficus clippings from your yard. The
leaves make good mulch and can be left under your plants.
Visit our website for updates and videos showing how to properly apply soil drenches
http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu
For additional information, please contact:
UF/Miami Dade County Extension office
18710 SW 288th Street
Homestead, FL 33030
305 248-3311
uf/iFAS Miami-Dade County Extension May 15, 2008