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