Department of Agriculture : What Residents Need To Know About Whitefly

The Department of Agriculture (DoA), under the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure (MPLAHI), continues to actively respond to reports of spiral whitefly infestations across Grand Cayman, with teams working daily to assist affected residential properties and commercial farms.

What is Spiral Whitefly?

Spiral whitefly is one of the most aggressive whitefly species affecting the Cayman Islands. It is typically identified by white, waxy spiral egg patterns on the undersides of leaves and by the sticky honeydew it produces, which can lead to the development of black sooty mould, commonly referred to as “black lice.”

Common host plants include:

• Coconut

• Banana and Plantain

• Mango

• Ornamental plants

• Various fruit trees and shrubs

What Can Residents Do?

The Department encourages residents to:

• Regularly inspect the tops and undersides of leaves.

• Quarantine new plants before introducing them to gardens.

• Avoid over-fertilising with nitrogen-rich products.

• Use yellow sticky traps to monitor activity.

• Encourage beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings.

• Avoid moving infested plant material between properties.

Treatment Options

Treatment options may include:

• Insecticidal soaps.

• Neem oil products.

• Pyrethrin-based sprays.

• Approved systemic treatments where appropriate.

• Strong water sprays for smaller infestations.

The Department of Agriculture will continue to provide updates and public education as response efforts progress. Members of the public seeking advice or wishing to report infestations may contact the Department of Agriculture directly.

The Ministry and Department remain committed to protecting plant health, supporting local agriculture and assisting residents as response efforts continue across the Cayman Islands. For More Information please visit: www.doa.gov.ky