Whitefly Control

Whitefly is a small insect which can literally ruin your houseplant. Plant owners may find it difficult to control whiteflies as they grow very fast. A 'cloud' of these critters can be seen when the leaves of the plants are disturbed. These tiny flying insects are not flies. They belong to the 'homoptera' insect family. You can easily identify these insects with the help of the white and waxy substance secreted by their abdominal glands. Greenhouse whitefly control is comparatively easier. Let us see how...

Symptoms of Whitefly on a Plant
It is very essential to inspect the plant you are buying. Shake the plant to check whether whiteflies are present on its leaves. These sap-sucking insect pests are present on both upper and lower surfaces of the leaves of the plants. They prefer lower surfaces more than the upper ones. Surprising fact about whiteflies is that a female whitefly lays around 200-300 eggs during her lifetime and in summer, it takes only three weeks to develop from an egg to an adult. This rate of production demands regular spraying of contact or organic chemical pesticides if you want to get rid of these insects.

As whiteflies suck the juices from the leaves, they start drying up. Untimely browning or wilting of the leaves indicates the presence of these insects. If you have a few plants, then it is easy to check the leaves of the plants but if you have a variety of plants, then, whitefly control may seem to be impossible.

Home Remedies to Control Whiteflies
Depending upon the intensity of the infestation, you should decide whether you want to treat the plant with an insecticide or a natural remedy. If you want, you may use a natural insecticide. But if you have pets, then use of insecticides can prove to be dangerous. Check whether your plant is included on the label of the insecticide. A spray containing acephate or malathion works great for whiteflies. You are supposed to coat both sides of the affected leaves. Do not forget to cover your eyes and keep the area properly ventilated. If you are looking for natural remedies, then take a look at the following recipe:

Ingredients

• 3 large onions
• 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
• 1 whole bulb of garlic
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Procedure

Blend all the ingredients, add a little water, and keep it aside overnight. Next day, sieve it and add some water. The homemade pesticide is ready! You may spray it once in a week. In case of heavy infestation, you need to spray it twice or thrice a week.

Another simple home remedy that works great for whiteflies involves removal of the infested leaves. Remember, you are expected to remove the leaves with eggs too. You can then keep a bright colored (preferably yellow or orange) cardboard box near the tree after applying a coat of any sticky substance, for example, petroleum jelly. These flying insects get attracted towards the bright color and get stuck. Everyday, you should keep the box and shake the plant, until no flies are left on the plant.

Greenhouse Whitefly Control
Covering the uninfected plants with a layer of horticultural fleece can keep the plants free from whiteflies. Pesticides containing thiacloprid, thiamethoxam or acetamiprid help get rid of the insects. Organic pesticides can protect the plant from infestation for several weeks. You can also hang bright yellow sticky traps above the plants in greenhouse. The traps can easily attract whiteflies.

Biological Pest Control
Biological way or the natural way of controlling whiteflies involves use of their enemies to kill them. The tiny wasp Encarsia formosa that kills whiteflies is provided on commercial basis by some biological services. Other whitefly enemies include small birds, spiders, lacewings, hoverflies, lady birds, ground beetles, mirid bugs and damsel bugs. If proper habitat is available, then these enemies present in the surroundings can kill whiteflies.

Excessive use of pesticides has destroyed the natural enemies of whiteflies. It is believed that certain insecticides are responsible for the increased reproductive capacity of whiteflies. Limited use of pesticides or use of natural pesticides is therefore necessary for maintaining ecological balance.