I have major infestation of my gumbo limbo and a coconut palm.

I plan on trying the soap and steady stream of water method.

Anyone have success treating this problem without insecticides?

I found this to be an interesting read on whitefly: http://www.palmtreedr.com/Gumb...iraling%20Whitefly.pdf

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Brevard Surf Report

a little Murphy's oil mixed with water in high power water guns in the hands of some willing and able 6 and 8 year old boys seems to have reduced the population significantly.....

blasted the underside of the affected leaves with a steady stream of water 1st.....

I'll report back on the final effectiveness of this mission in a few weeks......

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Brevard Surf Report

They are back and thicker than ever....

The wife picked up the chemicals yesterday, time to get atomic on these bastards....

Supposedly they are really starting to infiltrate Brevard county...

keep an eye out, in my 20 years of landscaping, I have never had to deal with these little F'ers, I underestimated their destruction...



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Brevard Surf Report

I was trimming some branches on my gumbo limbos yesterday and found some. They weren't everywhere, just on a few branches and I happened to be trimming those off anyway. I am going to try your Murphys oil later today as a precaution I think.

Let us know how the chemicals work and what they were please. Thanks!

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http://www.mmeadows.com

yj381,

If you have coconut palms, keep an eye out, as they really love to ravage those beauties.....

The murphy's is effective if you catch them early, which it sounds like you have.

The chemicals/insecticide are: Ferti-lome Tree and Shrub Systemic Insect Drench (active ingredient: Imidacloprid, N-nitro; and Cyonara Lawn and Garden insect control sprayer (active ingredient: lambda-cyhalothrin).

My wife purchased both at Sun Habor, I know not the best prices, but always good to help out local business...

I'm glad we got this rain, gonna apply both tomorrow when the kiddies are at school.

I'll report back on the success or failure of this process.....

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Brevard Surf Report

If imidacloprid is the chemical control, Bayer brand from lowes and home d in granule or liquid form is good.

They make a 12 month slow release granule as well.

Also try volck oil or general horticultural oil in a hose end sprayer.. soak the whole area down in the evening.

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Exotica Tropicals
Plant Nursery
Brevard Florida

palmtreeg,

My Gumbos have been hit hard, too (I'm in Satellite Beach).  Please give me some tips on application of your chemicals, and report back on success.

I was at one of the local beach's recently and saw severe WF infestation on both sea grapes and some coconut palms.  These things are out-of-control!!! 

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Surfing is my passion...obsesssion... addiction! Can't imagine life without it!

I found these whiteflys on my Christmas palms and Coconut palms. I found some stuff online (Amazon) called Dominion 2L which contains the same ingredient as the Fertilome (Imidacloprid) at a much higher concentrate for $28.00 with free shipping. It makes up to 100 gallons. I just treated the trees today, will post how it works out.

The big steps are:

1) coat the whole plant with oil. (volck oil, horticultural oil, etc) do this in the evening.

2) Trim the tree down if possible to remove infected limbs/leaves. You want this stuff already coated with oil, so it doesnt spread during this step. After you trim the plant, spray it a little more with oil to hit any areas that have now opened up. Try to get underneath the leaves, etc.

3) Apply Imidacloprid. You can do a liquid soil drench first (usually it has fertilizer in it too like the Bayer stuff) to get it taking it up fast. But I would also use a granular longer-term systemic insecticide, becuase it will stay on top of the bugs for you (there is a 12-month granule made by Bayer) Always apply as directed on the label.


4) About a week later, check again and reapply oil as needed.


The thing to keep in mind is that the Imidacloprid takes time to work. It is not going to instantly kill the bugs. Thats what the oil is for.. it coats them and suffocates them. So you have to remember that any un-oiled bug is not going to die. Thats why you check back in a week and reapply to try to get those guys. Thats also why you need to get the oil in every nook and cranny where they will be hiding. A hose-end sprayer is good for this type of oil-down.

sometimes it will look like the bugs are still there, but its just their dead bodies. you can hose that stuff off.


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Exotica Tropicals
Plant Nursery
Brevard Florida

They are hitting many plants in the area.  Friends and neighbors have it, in fact many of their plants are infested.  Several of my plants have a few spirals of eggs... stinks.  More things to do.....

Thanks for the info.

Paddleout,

Thanks for the info!

Surfaddict,

I did my application of the systemic on Tues am and sprayed the Fer's yesterday; I have noticed a dramatic reduction in them as a result (they were dropping like flies after spraying them)...

There are still a few left, so I am going to do the oil coat to ensure their destruction.

With winter rapidly approaching, I want my coconut palms especially, to be as health as possible...

Paddleout,

I'm looking forward to your grand opening. I've been wanting to get some of those beautiful heliconias you have. Let us know when you're open. Maybe do a 2nd light pre-grand opening

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Brevard Surf Report