How to get rid of whiteflies is a question often asked by gardeners. The whitefly is closely related to aphids, mealybugs, and scale, but it’s not an actual fly. It has soft-bodied wings and feeds on plant sap, affecting leaf injury and a host of other snags. They look like a moth, about 1/16th of an inch in length and extended trilateral in form.
How to get rid of whiteflies?
To understand the methods to get rid of whiteflies, first, we need to understand their life cycle.
Lifecycle Of Whitefly
Whiteflies have simple metamorphosis but have substantial changes in look and routine in adult and nymphal stages. At 70℉, the greenhouse whitefly life cycle takes 6-10 days for egg hatching, 3-4 days as a nymph I, 4-5 days as nymph II, 4-5 days as nymph III, 6-10 days for the pupa development.
Do Whiteflies Survive In Winter?
The insect can stay active through the winter in an unheated greenhouse, in a condition suitable to host plants. Glasshouse whitefly doesn’t usually live in winter out of doors.
Methods to Repel Whitefly
- Spray with water
- Keep leaves clean
- Attract natural predators
- Use insecticidal soap
- Try horticultural oil
- Use yellow sticky traps
- Use reflective mulch
- Keep it organic
How Long Do Whiteflies Live?
Adult whitefly can live for 30 to 40 days.
How To Avoid Whiteflies?
- Keep plants strong
- Inspect new plants
- Check plants frequently
Are Whiteflies Bad?
Whiteflies are tiny winged insects that suck the sap of the plants. Leaves of the plant turn yellow wilt and eventually dry out and fall off the plant.
How To Identify The Occurrence Of Whitefly?
- Take a closer look
- Know what to watch for
- Recognize the signs
Identify Whitefly Damage?
The whitefly has piercing-sucking mouthparts that extract Plant Sap and also damage as below:
- Leaves initiate to die foliage
- Secrete a sticky substance
- Leaves go pale or yellow
- Leaves turn wilted
- Stunted growth
- Leaves begin falling
- Leaves are incapable of achieving photosynthesis
- Whitefly also conveys destructive herb viruses, and in dangerous conditions, that can cause plant disease.
Which Insects Can Eat these notorious flies?
Some Insects Can Eat Whiteflies When They Attack Plants And Damage The Plants
- Ladybugs
- Spiders
- Green lacewing larvae
- Dragonflies
- These insects are very beneficial for the plants that can control a whitefly population and stop whiteflies’ attacks.
- Hummingbirds are another natural predators
What Plants Do Whiteflies Hate?
Some plants that hate whiteflies are
Basil
Nasturtium
Marigolds
Instead of using chemical pesticides and insecticides to add these plants to the flower garden, these plants can keep whiteflies at bay and attract beneficial insects.
What Are Whitefly Predators?
Natural predators of this pest contain ladybugs and lacewing larvae, which nourish their eggs, and the whitefly parasite that destroy nymphs and pupae.
Plants That Are Vulnerable To Whiteflies
- Beans
- Brassicas
- Citrus
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Grape
- Okra
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Squash
- Tomatoes
Some Plants Are Greenhouse Developed, And Attractive Plants Comprise
- Hibiscus
- Poinsettia
- Roses
Bedding Plants Such As
- Begonia
- Fushia
- Petunia
- Salvia
Whitefly attack on Indoor plant
Preventive Methods To Inhibit Plants from Attacking Houseplants
- Quarantine
- Vacuum bugs away
- Use sticky traps
- Insecticidal soaps
- Neem oil
Types Of Whitefly
There Are Hundreds Of Different Species
Most whiteflies spend their entire life cycle indoors and some include banded winged whiteflies, citrus and giant. Silver whitefly was named for its ability to transform squash foliage into a silvery color when infested.
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