Field Identification
A tropical/subtropical whitefly famous for laying eggs in a spiral pattern and coating leaves with woolly wax and honeydew; heavy on palms, citrus relatives, and many ornamentals. Infestations look like someone dusted the plant with cotton and syrup.
Adults are larger than many whiteflies; waxy flocculent material and spiral egg tracks on foliage are diagnostic. Crawlers settle on new growth; sooty mold often follows.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Thorough coverage with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil on new flushes—repeat on crawler peaks; neem can reduce feeding—expect multiple applications on dense wax.
Coccinellids such as Nephaspis oculatus and parasitic fungi in humid microclimates; conserve generalist predators by avoiding calendar sprays.
Prune out heavily infested fronds or branches when feasible; improve air movement in canopy interiors; avoid overhead patterns that leave prolonged leaf wetness without benefit.
Water wash of accessible foliage can dislodge wax and some stages on small plants; pressure-wash trucks not included.
Inspect new landscape material; isolate suspect plants; remove abandoned hosts that bridge generations.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Nephaspis oculatus
- Generalist lady beetles
- Lacewings