Whitefly Management Educational Program

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Since 2007 heavy infestations of new whiteflies were damaging South Florida landscapes. The Ficus whitefly caused the death of thousands of Ficus trees and hedges. Introduced in 2009 Gumbo Limbo white fly infested many species of trees, covering plants with a white substance produced by the insects. The black fungus called sooty mold, growing on the insect’s excrements, caused damage to cars, pool decks and patio furniture located under infested trees. Both whiteflies are very invasive and were able to spread quickly throughout the county. In response to a growing need for information about management of whiteflies, Miami-Dade County SPEED Cooperative Extension Service implemented “Whitefly Management Educational Program” targeting the entire county including: residents, Pest Control Operators, landscape professionals and ground maintenance employees from county, cities, and municipalities. The objective was to teach the community how to identify whiteflies and their damage to plants and to educate landscape professionals and pesticide applicators how to treat whiteflies without damaging the environment. Educational efforts included: workshops, field consultations, office visits, plant/pest identification clinics, production of YouTube videos, updates to the Extension Website, newspaper articles, and radio and TV interviews. Written educational materials and Power Point presentations were developed in English and Spanish. Approximately 1,500 commercial Pest Control Operators, commercial landscape professionals, and ground maintenance employees from cities, parks and municipalities participated in the trainings and workshops conducted by the SPEED Cooperative Extension Staff since 2007. After the educational programs a post-seminar questionnaire indicated that 81% of surveyed increased their knowledge about whitefly pests.