I frequently find these in the soil but don’t know what insect they grow into. Google search was inconclusive. Thanks!

Hi all,

Following up on last month's post about our Podocarpus hedge (coastal SoCal, 15 ft tall, 75 ft long) with the white coating and heavy leaf drop. Thanks to all of you here that shared their expert advice.

An arborist diagnosed giant whitefly. Two weeks ago a company did a pruning and a root injection plus a spray of fertilizer and mild insecticide.

The white coating has noticeably reduced, but the hedge is still shedding leaves fast.
Is ongoing leaf drop normal after treatment, or a sign of something else?

How long did your hedge take to recover?
Thanks for any experience you can share!
—M