I can't tell from the photo. Is the plant suffering at all? The leaf doesn't look like one under attack by whiteflies because you usually see many stages of the critter together. This just looks like adults hanging out which isn't very whiteflyish.

However, I can't think of any other dinky white flying critters offhand...

Catch one and immobilize it in a drop of alcohol (rubbing, vodka, whatever) or clear oil and get a better photo!

Thank you, Fori and Jim!

It will be a couple days but I'll take more photos. There is gunk all over, fallen leaves etc. At least those things won't be moving.

In fact, there are so many things I could photograph, I wouldn't be surprised if there is more than one pest imbalance. There are tiny bits of gunk on everything.

Fori, you ask a good question. These ficus trees shed every year around this time, iirc - which I thought was normal.

But maybe it isn't? The gardener I spoke to also thought that the shedding was a sign of stress. And now that I look, I do think some of the leaves are yellowing on the tree. I assume the roots go down far enough to the water table, but, what if I'm wrong? There are sprinklers but I think they just sort of spray a bit now and then - not a deep watering.

I'll have to look more closely, gather more data, and take more pics. Thank you for the inputs!!!

Jim's question does make me wanna ask...are they even moving? :)

So, here are a few more pics (below), and I am even more confused about the state of the trees. I can't even tell if they are stressed or not, or too wet or too dry. I seem to recall that they always shed leaves this time of year. So, maybe they are okay. I am seriously considering finding an arborist to come look.

Anyhow, as fate would have it ... we got so much wind, and so many leaves blew off, I'm not longer sure how bad the white fly/other situation is. There is a very crunchy carpet.

I hope these are better pictures. I think there is scale too.

Btw, again, sorry if these are icky photos!!!

All input appreciated!!!

And if anyone knows a good arborist in Southern California, please spill!! Thanks!

Some of the pictures are of aphid skeletons, some are Powderly mildew, some maybe scale, this the mildew.

Arborist?..CA has a certified Nursery “Mans” program. Many local garden shops have certified employees. 2 yr college degree with State testing/certification.

Thanks Jim!

The new photo with white things really does look like whiteflies to me. (If they're not moving then I'd default back to aphid skins.)

What kind of tree is it?

Hi Fori!

These are ficus. Benjamina I think. I am still confused and I am looking for an arborist. I just don't know enough. I can't even tell if they're getting too much water, or not enough water. And while I seem to recall that they shed leaves every year ... I'm not certain. I think though that once the trees are not stressed ... assuming that they are? ... then they will be able to deal with the insects.

I guess though I should keep some leaves as samples. I wonder how long it will take to find an arborist. I assume that, like everything else, they specialize. So I should find a ficus expert.

Some of the white bugs move, most don't.

Btw this may be dumb, but I've never seen white aphids, or flying ones. But maybe I just never see them flying? Do yours fly a lot?

The wind was very strong today and many leaves fell, so maybe a lot of the white flies are now on the ground. And the fallen leaves are mostly very dry, with a few green. I sure wish I had taken notes in previous years. Also we have ash falling from the sky, it seems. (More wildfires.) It's all a bit confusing.

Anyhow, thanks for the input!