For Immediate Release:
 July 25, 2008

Media Contact:
Adrian Hunsberger
aghu@ufl.edu
 305-248-3311

Marisol Triana
mtriana@miamidade.gov
 305-971-5091



Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Reports Spread of the Fig Whitefly


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- The Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension is reporting a significant increase in resident calls about the spread of fig whitefly infestation. New signs of the infestation have been spotted in the Cutler Bay area, and the pest seems to be moving farther south.

The adult whitefly, which resembles a white gnat, lays its eggs only on ficus plants. Its young feed on the leaves of ficus trees and ficus hedges, resulting in leaf yellowing, defoliation and in some cases plant death.Ficus, besides being a popular canopy tree, is also commonly used as a hedge in South Florida. Infestation has now affected most of Miami-Dade County, in addition to Broward, Palm Beach and the Lake Worth area.

There are remedies people can take to protect their plants.The Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension provides information on whitefly treatments to overcome the effects of defoliation as well as prevent future infestations.In addition to whitefly facts, the website (http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/Pests_HT.shtml) also provides a list of alternative plants to ficus.Find out which homeowner products are available and what commercial products you can apply if you have long ficus hedges and many ficus trees.

Other helpful online resources include:

 For further assistance, call the Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension office at 305-248-3311.

 The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department, which manages the Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension together with the University of Florida, urges consumers to use caution before signing contracts with companies that promise to treat the whitefly problem with pesticides.Not all treatments work.Know the facts before signing a contract with a business that may be trying to take your money.

 It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For information about materials in accessible format, please call 305-375-4942.
 

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CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT