Rugose Spiraling Whitefly
White-wax pest that coats palms, ficus and gumbo-limbo and drips sooty mold.
Rugose Spiraling Whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus) is a high-concern pest in Florida homes and yards. For whitefly control in Florida's Treasure & Space Coast, Rhino Pest Management sends licensed (#JB242881) and insured technicians and backs the work with a free re-service guarantee; 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews. Free estimate: (772) 589-6842.
Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons
Tiny white flying insects that lay eggs in distinctive spiral patterns coated in white wax on the undersides of leaves; heavy infestations leave a white, fuzzy buildup.
Ficus hedges, coconut and other palms, gumbo-limbo, and many ornamentals across coastal Florida.
- White waxy spirals on the undersides of leaves
- Black sooty mold on leaves, cars and pavement below
- Sticky honeydew coating surfaces under the canopy
- Whiteflies clouding up when branches are shaken
While rarely fatal on its own, severe infestations stress and can kill ficus hedges and palms, and the sooty mold ruins curb appeal and coats everything beneath the canopy.
Should I call today?
Yes, get it looked at promptly. Rugose Spiraling Whitefly causes damage or health problems that compound while you wait, and the cost of that damage is the part that actually gets expensive — not the treatment. An inspection is free, so there's no reason to guess.
Rhino treats with a systemic the plant carries into new growth plus a contact knockdown for the existing population, on a schedule that protects the canopy through the season.
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Scientific source
For the biology behind this page, the University of Florida's IFAS Extension publishes a detailed Featured Creatures profile of this species — free to read, and written by entomologists in this state:
Rugose Spiraling Whitefly Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin — UF/IFAS Extension