This is what happens to the
Ficus
shrubs when
they are not
treated correctly and in a timely matter! Don't wait until this happens
to you and your community! Call
us Toll Free: 1-(888) 4-JPM-Bugs Ficus Fig Whitefly
Damage: Click here for more images This can be
prevented! Call JP Miller to schedule
a treatment before your Ficus Hedge gets infested. This pest is
throughout the Tri-County Area! 1-888-4-JPM-Bugs
At this stage of
damage, the Ficus may not be able to regenerate
and replacement with treatment may be the only
option.
Introduction:
Recently, a new pest was reported attacking
ficus trees and hedges in Miami (through Palm
Beach), Florida. This pest was identified as
the fig whitefly, Singhiella simplex, and
is a new US continental record. Whiteflies are
small, winged insects that belong to the Order
Hemiptera which also includes aphids scales,
mealybugs, and bugs. These insects typically
feed on the underside of leaves with their
“needle-like” mouthparts.
Whiteflies can seriously injure
host plants by sucking juices from them causing
wilting, yellowing, stunting, leaf drop, or even
death.
Description and Damage:
The leaves of ficus trees infested with
whiteflies begin to turn yellow before the
leaves are dropped from the plant. Ficus trees
without their leaves are one of the most obvious
symptoms of a whitefly infestation. This
whitefly has been most commonly found infesting
weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) but has
also been seen on F. altissima, F.
bengalensis (also called “banyan tree”),
F. microcarpa, and F. maclellandii in
Miami. Weeping figs are commony used as hedges
but also grow as trees. Other hosts include the
strangler fig (F. aurea), Cuban laurel (F.
microcarpa), fiddle-leaf fig (F. lyrata)
and banana-leaf fig (F. macllandii).
This whitefly may eventually be found on other
species of ficus. Azalea has also been listed
as a host plant.
If the foliage is disturbed the
small, white gnat-like adult whiteflies can be
seen flying from the foliage. The adult
whitefly resembles a very small moth with a
yellow body and white wings with a faint grey
band in the middle of the wings. Immature
stages (eggs and nymphs) can be found primarily
on the underside of the leaves. Prior to adult
emergence, the nymphs are tan to light green
discs with red eyes. The underside of infested
leaves look like they are dotted with small,
silver or white spots which are actually the
empty “skin” of the pupae after the adult
emerges.
Biology:
The biology of the fig whitefly is not known,
however, it is probably similar to related
species in Florida. Eggs which are usually laid
on the underside of leaves hatch into a crawler
stage. The crawler wanders around the leaf
until they begin to feed. From this point until
they emerge as adults, they are immobile and
remain in the same place on the plant. These
feeding, non-mobile stages (nymphs) are usually
oval, flat, and simple in appearance.
Monitor
your ficus plants for early signs of an
infestation because it will be easier to manage
the pest before it builds to high populations
and causes major damage. Also, if infested
trees or hedges are trimmed, either leave the
clippings on the property or if removing, bag
the clippings to reduce the chance of spreading
the insects. If clippings are being transported
in a truck, be sure to either bag them or cover
these clippings with a tarp.
