BRT's covered in black spots

[MikeInFLA]

I've got about 15 BRT's on my back screened in porch. Under the leaves most of them have tiny black spots with white edges. While cutting it out I've come across a few tiny white flying bugs that aren't whitefly. Not sure what this stuff is but it's very sticky to the touch. Any thoughts? I'm in the process of defoliation as I'm not sure what else to do. I'm in South Florida so we don't really have winter. The plants are otherwise very healthy.

 

[Srt8madness]

Looks like some sort of armored scale to me

 

[Paradox]

Looks like scale to me too.

Scrape them off with your fingernail and kill them

 

[MikeInFLA]

It might be scale. I can scrape some of them off with my fingernail. Some of them won't scrape off, the leaf just tears apart. Considering how much there is, my guess would be if I worked 8 hours a day scraping the leaves it would take me about a week. I may have to keep trimming. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Gabler]

It might be scale. I can scrape some of them off with my fingernail. Some of them won't scrape off, the leaf just tears apart. Considering how much there is, my guess would be if I worked 8 hours a day scraping the leaves it would take me about a week. I may have to keep trimming. Thanks for the advice.

Use both a topical and a systemic fungicide.

 

[MikeInFLA]

Use both a topical and a systemic fungicide.

Thanks. I'll look into that. Will update.

 

[nuttiest]

i think these are maybe eggs... scale tends to stay off tender leaves

 

[AJL]

Use both a topical and a systemic fungicide.

NO!! Fungicide does what it says on the can- it kills fungi NOT insects LOL
These black scale like objects are the nymphs/pupae of a type of whitefly - you can also see some of the adult flies in your pictures.
See this info link https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES...iteflies,reduce but not eliminate populations.
I think it could be this species or something similar :-

Mulberry whitefly (Tetraleurodes mori)

Host plants: avocado, citrus, mulberry, other trees. Characteristics: Nymphs have blackish, oval bodies with white, waxy fringe. Adults have reddish to gray wing markings.

 

[Gabler]

NO!! Fungicide does what it says on the can- it kills fungi NOT insects LOL
These black scale like objects are the nymphs/pupae of a type of whitefly - you can also see some of the adult flies in your pictures.
See this info link https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7401.html#:~:text=Reflective mulches can repel whiteflies,reduce but not eliminate populations.
I think it could be this species or something similar :-

Mulberry whitefly (Tetraleurodes mori)

Host plants: avocado, citrus, mulberry, other trees. Characteristics: Nymphs have blackish, oval bodies with white, waxy fringe. Adults have reddish to gray wing markings.

Oops. Meant to say insecticide. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Srt8madness]

NO!! Fungicide does what it says on the can- it kills fungi NOT insects LOL
These black scale like objects are the nymphs/pupae of a type of whitefly - you can also see some of the adult flies in your pictures.
See this info link https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7401.html#:~:text=Reflective mulches can repel whiteflies,reduce but not eliminate populations.
I think it could be this species or something similar :-

Mulberry whitefly (Tetraleurodes mori)

Host plants: avocado, citrus, mulberry, other trees. Characteristics: Nymphs have blackish, oval bodies with white, waxy fringe. Adults have reddish to gray wing markings.

Thanks for clarification!

 

[MikeInFLA]

Thanks for the replies. Doing my homework...

 

[yashu]

Imidacloprid should take care of that.

 

[AJL]

Imidacloprid should take care of that.

It might 'take care ' but be aware that its not the safest chemical to use in your garden! Its been banned in Europe and Britain due to its negative impacts on beneficial bees, and other pollinators.
There are various safer alternatives - see the link https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES...iteflies,reduce but not eliminate populations

 

[yashu]

It might 'take care ' but be aware that its not the safest chemical to use in your garden! Its been banned in Europe and Britain due to its negative impacts on beneficial bees, and other pollinators.
There are various safer alternatives - see the link https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7401.html#:~:text=Reflective mulches can repel whiteflies,reduce but not eliminate populations

I believe OP stated that the trees were in a screened in porch.

 

[MikeInFLA]

I believe OP stated that the trees were in a screened in porch.

Correct

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Imidacloprid should take care of that.

This is a good choice for application where over spray and the plants are not accessable to honey bees. Generally our small bonsai collections pose no threat if we don't over do chemical applications. You don't want excess running off out into the yard. If our bonsai are not flowering when we spray, it is unlikely bees will be attracted to them, the bee health risk is minimal.

 

[yashu]

Correct

If your trees are not in flower and they are separated from the surrounding environment by the screened in porch the risk of unintended impact is minimal to nonexistent. Imidacloprid systemic granules are very effective against piercing sucking insects when not over used and when care is taken to not expose beneficial pollinators.

*edt: what @Leo in N E Illinois said!

 

[MikeInFLA]

Granules are arriving today. Will report back. Thanks everyone!

 

[MikeInFLA]

I ended up going with the Imidacloprid granules. A few days after application there were very few (if any) adult whiteflies left. A few days more and there were none. The black spots on the leaves began to shrink and are barely there now. The new growth is clean and the few plants I defoliated have new growth with no issues so far. I'm going to do one more application this weekend just to ensure they are kept at bay. Thanks for the suggestions.