Pest Control Of The Whitefly In South Florida

Among the many greenery and landscaping options our subtropical climate here in Florida allows us to choose is the Ficus tree. In many places the Ficus is more commonly grown indoors than out. But in our warm environment the Ficus can be grown outside. In our yards these trees can reach massive sizes, from 50 to 60 feet high and with a spread of 100 feet. They often grow to be wider than they are tall. The Ficus tree is an excellent ornamental plant and most species produce figs. The proper care and cultivation of these trees became more of a challenge in 2007 when the Ficus Whitefly was introduced into the U.S. here in Florida.

Whiteflies are an insect with more than 1500 species having been classified. They can transmit disease and also eat and destroy plants and shrubberies. They are very difficult to control and their elimination may require the application of multiple methods in rotation and over weeks. The whitefly evolves in 4 stages, from eggs to nymphs, to pupa, to the adult fly. Researchers at the University of Florida report that Ficus Whiteflies are seriously injuring host plants by sucking juices from them. This results in wilting, yellowing, stunting, leaf drop, or even the death of trees.

To find out if your Ficus is at risk shake your plant to see if small, gnat-like whiteflies emerge. You can also check the underside of the leaves for whiteflies in immature stages. A magnifying glass is helpful for detection. The whiteflies will appear as small tan to light green discs with red eyes. You will want to carefully check your ficus plants for early signs of an infestation. Detection of these pests in the beginning stages will make it easier to manage them before they build high populations and cause major damage. Since whiteflies congregate in large numbers infested plants can be quickly overwhelmed and destroyed.

We cannot consider the Ficus Whitefly just a natural consequence of living in Florida - it is not a native species. For that matter neither are the Ficus Trees they attack. However, the Ficus Whitefly is a devastating garden insect infesting and destroying hundreds of landscapes all over Florida. Yours could easily be next. Most plants become heavily infested in only days or a couple of weeks. If you do not catch the infestation early you could lose most of your beautiful flora. You could also lose thousands of dollars in replacement costs. Better protect your investment and call  Zimmerman Tree Service today. With over 30 years of experience,  Zimmerman Tree Service is a full service organization providing shade, fruit and ornamental tree care as well as insect, disease and fertilization programs. As a leader in tree care,  Zimmerman Tree Service’s unique approach of delivering a wide range of arboriculture services conveniently eliminates the time and expense of searching for and experimenting with different companies.

Our objective is to continually provide superior arboriculture services that add value to trees, prepare them for storm season and enhance their overall health and beauty. We focus on servicing our customers to the fullest extent to ensure their satisfaction.

Zimmerman Tree Service provides plant care, lawn, insect control, pruning, stump grinding, exotic invasive removal, mangrove, lethal yellowing treatment, pine revitalization, coconut palm injections, blend fertilizers, disease, cabling, bracing, lightning protection and total plant health care in Palm Beach County, Boca Raton, West Palm, Wellington, Manalapan, Green Acres, Lake Worth, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lantana, Boynton Beach Tree and the rest of Palm Beach County, as well as Broward and Martin Counties in South Florida. Call 561-968-1045