There is a pest epidemic attacking Ficus trees and hedges in Broward and Palm Beach Counties, heavily affecting Boca Raton, Lighthouse Point, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach it is the Ficus Whitefly. They are small, winged insects that typically feed on the underside of Ficus leaves, seriously injuring the Ficus by sucking the juices from them causing wilting, yellowing, stunting, leaf drop, or even death. The leaves begin to turn yellow before the leaves are dropped from the plant. The adult whitefly resembles a very small moth. Immature stages (eggs and nymphs) can be found primarily on the underside of the leaves and look like they are dotted with small, silver or white spots, which are actually the empty "skin" of the pupae after the adult emerges.

How to get rid of Ficus White Fly: The current recommendation is to drench the foliage and soil around the base of the tree or hedge with a systemic neonicotinoid (Merit). If applied properly, this should provide sufficient control for several months, but will need to be reapplied on a continuous basis. If you have any Ficus susceptible to Whitefly on your property, we strongly recommend that you have us begin immediate treatments to avoid damage or even death of the Ficus, which could be very costly to replace depending on the amount of Ficus you have. We service Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach, and Ocean Ridge. Call us for a free estimate or if you have any further questions. (561) 243-9320