Plant pests · SWFL Pest Identifier
Rugose Spiraling Whitefly
Worth a pro look Damage or health risk grows quickly once established.
How to identify it
- White waxy spirals on palm frond undersides
- Sticky "honeydew" film on cars, pool decks, furniture below
- Black sooty mold following the sticky film
Size
Tiny (pinhead)
Where you'll see it
Lawn / garden · Lanai / patio
Looks like
Crawler
Did you know
The spiral pattern is her egg-laying signature — like a tiny crop circle under every frond.
What it means for you
Trees usually survive, but the sticky fallout zone makes treatment worth it.
Not sure this is your bug?
Text a photo and a licensed local tech will identify it for free — or run it through the interactive identifier.
Similar plant pests in SWFL
Mealybug
Keep an eye on itWhite cottony clusters at stem joints and leaf bases
Aphid
Keep an eye on itSoft green/black/orange specks clustered on new growth
Tea Scale
Keep an eye on itWhite/brown flecking stuck to leaf undersides (camellias, hollies)
Sri Lankan Weevil
Keep an eye on itChalk-white weevil with a short snout
Dealing With This One?
Get a real price online in about 60 seconds — or text us a photo first and we'll tell you honestly whether it even needs treatment.