Whiteflies
Scientific Name
Aleyrodidae
Description
Whiteflies are tiny, sap-sucking insects that typically cluster on the undersides of leaves. They are usually white or yellowish and can be identified by their powdery appearance and rapid movement when disturbed.
Characteristics
Whiteflies are very small and winged, with a powdery, dust-like coating. Their feeding excretes honeydew, which promotes sooty mold growth and weakens plant health over time.
Control Methods
- Organic sprays: Apply organic treatments like neem oil or insecticidal soap during early infestation periods to control whitefly numbers.
- Cultural practices: Practice crop rotation and interplant with repellent species like marigolds or garlic. Remove and destroy heavily infested leaves to minimize spread.
- Preventive methods: Maintain plant health through proper watering and balanced fertilization, and monitor plants regularly to detect early infestations.
- Biological controls: Encourage beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps (e.g., Encarsia formosa), and minute pirate bugs to naturally reduce whitefly populations.
- Mechanical physical: Deploy yellow sticky traps to capture adult whiteflies and use a strong water spray to dislodge them from plant surfaces.
Natural Enemies
- Ladybugs
- Lacewings
- Parasitic Wasps
- Minute Pirate Bugs