Newspaper Reports on Spiral Whitefly Invasion

Last week, the Palm Beach Post ran a story on the Rugose spiraling whitefly invasion (Whiteflies hit Palm Beach County homeowners’ trees, plants, pools, Aug. 16, 2012). If you’re a regular reader of this blog, then you knew about the Rugose spiraling whitefly more than two weeks earlier (The Spiral Whitefly Invasion – A New Pest in Town, Aug. 1). We don’t want to brag about our timeliness; the Post certainly has more resources than us. But, it does beg the question (with apologies to Ghostbusters):

If there's somethin' strange in your yard
Who ya gonna call? (Insect Pest Control)
If it's somethin' weird an it don't look good
Who ya gonna call? (Insect Pest Control)

To Recap: Signs & Symptoms of Rugose Whitefly

The most noticeable symptoms of an infestation of this whitefly are an abundance of white, waxy material that covers leaves and  excessive sooty mold. This white, waxy material is used to coat the insect’s eggs, which are laid in a spiral pattern on the underside of leaves. The whitefly also produces a “honeydew” that is a sugary substance that causes the growth of the sooty mold.

The “honeydew” can accumulate on cars, pool decks and patio furniture from infested trees overhead. It can also turn pool water green. But the good news is, the University of Florida IFAS Extension says that this whitefly hasn’t caused severe plant damage, such as plant death or severe branch die-back.

This Week’s Topic

What we really want to discuss this week is the insect invasion that seems to be taking place in our area. No, you’re not imaging it. Dr. Rudy Scheffrahn of the University of Florida’s Research and Education Center in Davie told a Miami television station that the rainy season that began in May has meant a longer period of insect activity, which has resulted in mass invasions of  grasshoppers, mosquitoes and ants.

Iguanas

In addition, the mild winter helped to create an invasion of reptiles, particularly iguanas. According to the Green Iguana Society, the wild green iguanas common in South Florida are a mix of former pets and the offspring of these animals. This invasive species enjoys eating your shrubs, trees, landscape plants, orchids and fruits, such as figs, mangos, berries and tomatoes. They prefer to defecate in or around water, so your pool could become their toilet. Iguana feces are odiferous, unsightly and may harbor Salmonella bacteria.

There are several non-lethal ways to repel iguanas. Try making your yard less iguana friendly and do not feed the iguanas that come around. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences suggests removing protective cover such as dense thickets and piles of landscape rocks or wood from your yard. Sheet metal around the base of trees may deter iguanas from climbing them and may encourage them to move on. Plants can be protected by screens or wire cages. Another method used to protect plants and deter iguanas (as well as other unwanted animals) from a yard is to spray plants with a mixture consisting of three cloves of garlic and four red-hot peppers mixed with a bucket of water. To protect your pool, cover it when it is not in use.

Geckos – The Most Adaptable Lizard

Nearly everyone knows “Martin,” the GEICO gecko. He is perhaps the most recognizable of all geckos. He first appeared in 1999, voiced by actor Kelsey Grammer. Geckos are the most adaptable of lizards. They are so common in buildings in South Florida that they are often called “house lizards.”

The Common House Gecko is a native of southeastern Asia and made its way by ship around the world. They grow to a length of between three to six inches and live for about five years. They are harmless, non-venomous and enjoy feasting on insects and spiders.

If geckos freak you out, you can get rid of them by eliminating their source of food. To do this, you will have to ensure that they don’t get in at all.

• Install screens in your windows, doors and vents
• Seal up crack and crevices around your home with a sealant
• Clean up dark and hard to reach areas to destroy their hives or breeding places
• Check your garage and clean it up
• Use insecticides to ensure you kill most of the insects in your home

Who ya gonna call?

Whatever kind of pest has invaded your home, the experts at Insect Pest Control can help you eliminate them and restore your sanity. Call today for a FREE consultation.

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