October 23, 2026
Why Your Ficus Hedge Is Dropping Leaves: Ficus Whitefly in Palm Beach County
Short answer: If your Ficus benjamina hedge is turning yellow and dropping leaves, ficus whitefly is one of the most likely causes in Palm Beach County. Check the undersides of the leaves for tiny white-winged insects that fly up when you brush the hedge, flat see-through nymphs and sticky honeydew or black sooty mold. Catching it early gives the hedge the best chance to recover.
Ficus benjamina, often called weeping fig, is one of the most common privacy hedges in Palm Beach County. When a hedge that was a solid green wall starts thinning out, homeowners usually suspect water, fertilizer or the landscaper’s trimming. Those can all play a part, but in South Florida the first thing to rule out is ficus whitefly.
What is ficus whitefly?
Ficus whitefly (Singhiella simplex) is a small sap-feeding insect that attacks ficus plants. UF/IFAS reports it was first detected in the United States in 2007, in Miami-Dade County, UF/IFAS and USDA researchers later found it in every South Florida county, including Palm Beach and Broward, and UF/IFAS considers it a major pest in Florida, especially on Ficus benjamina.
Why it makes a hedge drop its leaves
Ficus whitefly sucks sap from the leaves. According to UF/IFAS, its feeding causes leaf yellowing and rapid leaf drop, along with sticky honeydew, black sooty mold, branch dieback, stunting and wilting. In severe cases, the plant can die.
The damage can build up before anyone notices. UF/IFAS notes that an infestation that goes unnoticed for two to three months, or two to three generations of whitefly, can be enough to defoliate a hedge. The whole life cycle takes about 30 days, and it runs faster in warm weather.
How to check your hedge in five minutes
- Brush or shake the hedge. Adult ficus whitefly are about 1.4 to 1.6 millimeters long, with white wings marked by a faint gray to light brown band, and fly up when the leaves are disturbed.
- Turn over a few leaves. Look for older nymphs: small tan to light green ovals with red eyes. Young nymphs are nearly see-through.
- Use a magnifier along the center vein. The small, pale, elongated eggs are laid along the midvein on the underside of the leaf.
- Look for leftover pupal cases. Empty cases stay on the leaves for weeks after adults emerge.
- Check under the hedge. Piles of yellow leaves, sticky surfaces and black sooty mold on leaves, pavers or cars are all signs.
Is it whitefly or something else?
Leaf drop on ficus is not always whitefly. UF/IFAS and USDA researchers note that Ficus benjamina drops leaves in response to small changes, including cold snaps, and watering problems and other insects can cause it too. Other whiteflies also live on ficus in Florida, such as rugose spiraling whitefly, which leaves spirals of white wax on leaves. Our whitefly library page covers the common types and the plants they attack.
That’s why the first step is identifying what’s actually on the hedge. Treating for the wrong problem costs time, and a hedge under attack doesn’t have much time to spare.
Will a ficus hedge grow back?
Often, yes. UF/IFAS and USDA researchers report that defoliated ficus hedges can grow new leaves. Repeated defoliation is the bigger risk, because it weakens the plant and can kill it. Ficus hedges also tend to run from one yard to the next, so whitefly can move back in from a neighbor’s hedge. Researchers note that some cities and homeowners associations even require ficus whitefly control on hedges.
What you can do now
- Inspect regularly. UF/IFAS and USDA researchers recommend scouting ficus hedges regularly, so problems are caught before defoliation.
- Don’t wait for the hedge to go bare. The earlier whitefly is found, the easier it is to protect the hedge.
- Keep the hedge healthy. Consistent watering helps the plant handle stress and push new growth.
- Get it identified. A professional inspection tells you whether you’re dealing with ficus whitefly, another pest or a plant health problem.
How Q and L Pest Management helps
Q and L Pest Management offers ficus whitefly treatment as part of our Lawn, Shrub & Tree program. We inspect the hedge, confirm what’s causing the leaf drop, treat the whitefly and keep checking the hedge on follow-up visits, with a written service report each time. For community entrances and business properties, see our lawn and ornamental programs for HOAs and property managers and commercial lawn and ornamental care.
We serve homes across Palm Beach County, including Lantana, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my ficus hedge losing leaves?
In South Florida, ficus whitefly is one of the most common causes of leaf drop on Ficus benjamina hedges. Cold snaps, watering problems and other insects can also cause it, so it helps to have the hedge inspected.
What does ficus whitefly look like?
Adults are about 1.4 to 1.6 millimeters long with white wings marked by a faint gray to light brown band, and fly up when the hedge is disturbed. Older nymphs are tan to light green ovals with red eyes, and eggs are laid along the center vein on the underside of the leaf.
What is the black stuff on my ficus hedge?
It is likely sooty mold. Whitefly feeding leaves sticky honeydew on leaves and surfaces below, and sooty mold grows on that honeydew.
Will my ficus hedge come back after whitefly?
Often, yes. Researchers report that defoliated ficus hedges can grow new leaves, but repeated defoliation can kill the plant.
Does Q and L Pest Management treat ficus whitefly?
Yes. Whitefly treatment is part of our Lawn, Shrub & Tree program. Call (561) 725-5274 or visit our ficus whitefly treatment page to book a complimentary inspection.
Request a complimentary inspection
Book a complimentary inspection and we’ll share what we find, explain your options and recommend a plan for your home.
Request a complimentary inspection: qandlpest.com/contact-us/ · (561) 725-5274
Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Inspect first. Treat smart.
About the author
Michael Ringler, Q and L Pest Management. Q and L Pest Management is a family-owned pest control company based in Lantana and serving Palm Beach County since 2022.Q and L Pest Management LLC holds FDACS Pest Control Business License #JB333443. Services are performed under FDACS Certified Pest Control Operator John Park, certificate #JF320165.
Sources
- UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. Ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex. https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/alexandra-revynthi/ficus-wf/
- UF/IFAS EDIS. Casuso, N. and Smith, H. Pest Identification Guide: Ficus Whitefly, Singhiella simplex (IN1203). https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1203
- UF/IFAS TREC and USDA-ARS. Chemical Control of the Ficus Whitefly. https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/media/trecifasufledu/pdf-docs/Chemical-control-of-the-Ficus-whitefly.pdf
- Ahmed, M. Z., McKenzie, C. L., Revynthi, A. M. et al. (USDA-ARS and UF/IFAS). Pest Status, Survey of Natural Enemies, and a Management Plan for the Whitefly Singhiella simplex in the United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 13(1), 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmac007