First spotted in Miami-Dade County in 2009, the whitefly has spread north.
“It has overtaken the neighborhood so quickly,” said Laurie Moccia, the property manager at West Lake Village. “It is pretty much widespread throughout the neighborhood.”
The spiraling whitefly problem first spotted in Miami-Dade County has now spread north into Broward and Palm Beach counties, where the tiny bugs are attacking trees and shrubs.
The spiraling white fly can not only damage lush landscaping, but it’s messy and a nuisance. It is also expensive, especially for communities like West Lake Village that have 720 homes to treat.