The control method of whiteflies

As for insects, whiteflies are one of the most common and most harmful to plants. The number of whiteflies can explode quickly and cause severe infection. Once they are caught, whiteflies can be difficult to remove, so it is important to identify the early signs of infection and use the necessary treatment to bring them under control.

What are whiteflies?

Despite its name, the whitefly is not a real fly but is closely related to aphids, mealybugs, and sizes. These soft-bodied insects feed on plant sap, causing leaf damage and many other problems. They are moth-shaped, elongated, about 1/16 of an inch long, and slightly grayish-white in color. Due to their small size, they can be difficult to spot.

8 Tips: How to get rid of whiteflies

If you have whiteflies, try these tips:

Spray with water: Gently spray the plants with water to expel whitefly eggs and nymphs. Since nymphs do not move after the initial creeping phase, they will starve to death when removed from their food source.

Keep the leaves clean: To control honey and mold, wipe the affected leaves with a damp cloth or spray with water.

Attract natural predators: Beneficial insects that hunt white flies provide natural pest control. These natural enemies include Ladybugs, Green Lacewings, Dragonflies, and Whitefly parasitic wasps. Create a habitat to attract and support these benefits and plant flowers to attract hummingbirds that will also eat whiteflies.

Use insecticidal soap: For heavy indoor or outdoor infections, use an insecticidal soap (or mix 1 tablespoon castil soap with 1 quart of water and make your own). The soap covers eggs, larvae, and adults. Apply in the early morning or evening when the temperature is cool and repeat as instructed if necessary.

Try horticultural oil: Horticultural oils like neem oil are also effective. This solution kills whiteflies at all stages of life and promotes black spot mold.

Use yellow sticky traps: For internal or external attacks, yellow sticky traps can detect and control pests. Whiteflies are attracted to yellow and get stuck in the glue-like substance. This solution also works for other pests including aphids, fungal mosquitoes, and thrips.

You can create yellow codecs yourself by coating them with petroleum jelly on one side and placing them close to your plants. While not as effective as store-bought traps, they can catch some and alert you to their presence.

Use reflective mulch: Cover with a metal cloth around easily affected plants such as tomatoes and peppers. The reflective material is confusing to them, so they will skip that part.

Keep it organic: Whiteflies are resistant to the most common pesticides and are ineffective. Organic methods are very effective and safe for the environment.

How to protect whiteflies

The most effective tool to control whiteflies is prevention.

Keep Plants Healthy:

Healthy plants are capable of preventing pests and diseases.

Examine new plants:

Carefully inspect newly purchased plants before bringing them home from the nursery to prevent the spread of pests to other plants.

Be sure to check the plants:

When doing regular gardening, such as watering and fertilizing, make it a part of your routine to inspect the plants weekly to diagnose problems early. Focus on the most vulnerable plants.

How to rearrange the priority of whiteflies

Watch carefully:

Look for insects or eggs on the back of the leaves.

Find out what to look for:

Look for small bugs that fly out of the plants as you approach.

Symptoms are visible:

Check if there are black needle mold or ants inspired by the sweet honey substance secreted by whiteflies.

Unidentified damage

Whiteflies cause similar damage to aphids. Both have perforated suction mouth areas. They secrete a sticky substance called bee, which promotes fungal diseases such as black mold.

If left untreated, whiteflies The attack can cause very serious problems. The leaves turn pale or yellow and wither, eventually dying and falling off. When the leaves fall off, the plants become more vulnerable to photosynthesis. Whiteflies also spread harmful plant viruses and, in severe cases, cause plant death.

The plants are suitable for whiteflies

Beans, broccoli, citrus, cucumber, eggplant, grapes, okra, peppers, potatoes, squash, and tomatoes are the most affected food crops.

Greenhouse-grown and ornamental plants are the most endangered, such as red poppy, poinsettia, roses, and bedding plants such as piconia, fuchsia, petunia, and salvia.

Whitewashing on houses

Whiteflies feed on the most common houseplants but prefer soft-leaved varieties that are easier to pie.

With their mouth areas. Take these precautionary measures to protect your indoor plants:

Isolation:

Keep new houseplants away from other plants for 2 to 3 weeks, which should be sufficient time to detect the presence of whiteflies or other pests.

Vacuum errors will be avoided:

Use a small handheld vacuum cleaner or hose attachment to gently remove adult whiteflies, larvae, and eggs, taking care not to damage the plants. Dispose of the vacuum bag in an outdoor trash can.

Use sticky traps:

Follow the label instructions and place yellow adhesive tape, stocks, or traps near the affected plants.

Indestructible soap:

Use a commercial or homemade solution to control population growth (see recipe above).

Neem oil:

If you use neem oil, take care not to get oil on clothes, furniture, or other household items.

Types of white varieties

There are hundreds of different species, most of which have a preferred food source. Until recently, the greenhouse whitefly (Trilorots vapororium), which usually spends its entire life cycle indoors, was the most commonly found species. Other common species include the banded whitefly, the citrus whitefly, and the giant whitefly. Cabbage whitefly attacks broccoli-like cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli. Named for its ability to turn squash leaves silver when coated with Silver Leaf Whitefly.

Whitefly life cycle

Outside, whiteflies begin to reproduce in late spring, laying a circular shape at the base of the leaves. In 5 to 10 days the eggs hatch into nymphs, which crawl briefly until they find a suitable place to feed. The wings have been shown solely to give a sense of proportion.

Adults can survive for 1 to 2 months, reproduce quickly in warmer climates, and are slower when the weather is cooler. Many generations can come together.

Because whiteflies cannot survive year-round in or cold, they are often found indoors or in greenhouses in the northern regions. In warmer regions, whitefly larvae can live outside in winter. Outdoor plants from infected greenhouses can spread these pests to other plants in your landscape during the warmer months.