Spiral White Fly

Aleurodicus dugesii Cockerell

Zone 8-9-10

We need another exotic pest in Florida like we need more Cat-5 hurricanes...

Here is our newest challenge: the Spiral White Fly (also known by Giant White Fly and Gumbo Limbo White Fly)

Known to infect California, Texas, and Louisiana, Spiral White Fly has the power to kill some plants and to seriously infect many dozens more.  Known hosts include Gumbo Limbo, banana, black olive, mango, coconut and other palms, hibiscus, cocoplum, copperleaf and more

The bug damage is bad enough, but it also introduces sooty mold which will drop from trees then blemish drivewways, cars or whatever is under the foliage

Here are links to existing articles which tend to deminish the intensity of the threat: