Palm Day

Stop whitefly early

Rugose spiralling whitefly: signs and what works.

Signs

  • White waxy spirals and white insects under the leaves; sticky leaves that turn black with sooty mould.

What works

  • Yellow or green sticky traps; castor-oil-coated yellow sheets tied around the trunk, wiped every other day.
  • Remove weeds around palms; grow marigold around the garden.
  • Spray neem oil 10,000 ppm with detergent, or the bio-agent Isaria/R55 at 5 ml + 5 g detergent per litre, together with neighbouring farms.

Don't spread it

  • Check new seedlings for egg spirals before planting, and don't buy plants from infested areas.

Sources: ICAR-IIOPR: Management of Rugose Spiraling Whitefly, ICAR-IIOPR Crop Calendar 2026

More guides

Get reminders for your own farm

Palm Day turns these guides into a plan for your palms' age and acres, with harvest-round reminders.

Sign in with Google, free