fig whitefly
TRANSCRIPT
Fig Whitefly
Singhiella simplex (singh)
Greg Hodges, FDACS-DPI
Catharine Mannion, UF-IFAS
Whiteflies
Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae 2 subfamilies: Aleyrodinae
and Aleurodicinae
Approximately 75 species of whiteflies in Florida.
Piercing/Sucking Mouthparts
Immatures found on underside of leaves
Adults small, gnat-like and usually with white wings.
J. Castner, UF-IFAS
Lyle Buss, UF-IFAS
Fig whitefly
First found in Florida in
2007
New U.S. Continental
Record
October 2007,
homeowners start
noticing leaf drop with
Ficus benjamina
plantings
C. Mannion, UF-IFAS
Lyle Buss, UF-IFAS
Adrian Hunsberger, UF-IFS
Damage
Leaves turn yellow
Rapid defoliation
Photos: H. Glenn and C. Mannion, UF/IFAS
Fig Whitefly (Singhiella simplex (Singh))
o Hemiptera
o Aleyrodidae
o Aleyrodinae
o Dialeurodini
o Similar species (Dialeurodini) in Florida
o Citrus whitefly
(Dialeurodes citri)
o Cloudy wing whitefly
(Singhiella citrifolii)
o Schefflera whitefly
(Dialeurodes schefflerae)
Lyle Buss, UF-IFAS
Lyle Buss, UF-IFAS
Singhiella simplex (Singh)
The wings are white with a faint grey band
towards the middle of the wing
The pupae are small tan to light green; 1.3 mm
Catharine Mannion, UF Catharine Mannion, UF
Gray Bars
Jeff Lotz, FDACS-DPI
Slide preparations of fig
whitefly look very similar to
that of citrus whitefly
Citrus whitefly
Citrus whitefly
Fig whitefly
Fig Whitefly
Prior to introduction to Florida, the fig whitefly was known only from China, Burma and India.
Little literature exists on the biology of this insect but it is noted as a minor pest of Ficus species in India.
The only natural enemy listed in literature was the parasitic wasp Encarsia tricolor(Hymenoptera: Aphelenidae)
Fig whitefly
There have been approximately 130
samples submitted to FDACS-DPI to date.
Broward and Miami-Dade Counties
Over 20 nurseries have been identified as
having Fig whitefly.
Current Distribution of Fig whitefly, Singhiella simplex
March 17, 2008
Florida Hosts
Ficus aurea (Strangler Fig)
Ficus benghalensis (Banyan Tree)
Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig)
Ficus lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig)
Ficus maclellandi (Banana Leaf Fig)
Ficus microcarpa (Cuban Laural)
Predators Collected in Miami on
Ficus Infested with Whitefly
Photos: H. Glenn, UF/IFAS
Chilocorus nigritis Curinus coeruleusExochomus childreni
Harmonia axyridis Olla v-nigrum
Parasitoids Collected in Miami
on Ficus Infested with Whitefly
Encarsia protransvena
Photos: H. Glenn, UF/IFAS
Amitus bennetti
Other Common Fig Pests
In South Florida
Fig Wax Scale, Ceroplastes rusci
First reported in
Florida in 1994.
Now considered
common in south
Florida.
Commonly
collected on Ficus.
Wax appearing
grayish pink, with
wax plates
Fig wax scale
Samples are
coming in that are
parasitized.
Parasitized scales
look very different,
brown in color
Lyle Buss, UF
Lyle Buss, UF
Lobate Lac Scale
First reported in Florida, 1999.
Has been found on over 300 plant species.
Resembles small black or maroon bow-ties.
Ficus and Cubal Laural Thrips
Gynaikothrips ficorum
Cuban Laural Thrips
Gynaikothrips uzeli
Weeping Fig Thrips
Leaves appear folded
Greenidea ficicola,
Asian ficus aphid
Exotic aphid from
Asian
Infests various Ficus
species
Infests Ficus
benjamina, at least
in the laboratory
Note long hairy
siphunculi
Winged form
Colony on Ficus
Resources
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/entofig_whitefly.html
http://mannion.ifas.ufl.edu/pests.htm