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Pest Remedies-W:
Whiteflies (Various)
Order: Homoptera; Family: Aleyrodidae
Description: Adult is white with white powder;(1/8") 2 - 3 mm length; antennae 7
segments.
Life Cycle: Chiefly tropical or greenhouse locations.
Hosts/Damage:
Controls:
Cultural - Sticky bands.
Biological - There is a good biological control program available for white fly using
the parasite Encarsia formosa and predatory lady beetle Delphastus pusillus. A good book
on this topic with color pictures of pests and beneficials is available: "Biological
Pest Management for Interior Plantscapes", M.Steiner et al, Government of Alberta
Publication Services, 11510 Kingsway Ave., Edmonton, Alta., Canada T5G 2Y5 for a cost of
$2.50. For best success a number of steps should be followed:
1/ Make sure you have identified the pest correctly, greenhouse whitefly are controlled
more easily than sweet potato whitefly.
2/ Inspect and treat all new plants to prevent re-infestation.
3/ Monitor on a weekly or bi-weekly basis using sticky yellow traps or "trap
plants" that are attractive to whitefly.
4/ Make sure the plant growing environment is suitable for biological control (eg.
temperature, humidity and hours of daylight).
4/ Apply biological control agents at recommended rates and timing.
5/ Adjust any unbalances by increasing rates, removing susceptible plants or spot
spraying with integrable products such as, Enstar, Trounce or insecticidal soap (lists of
other pesticides that are easy on beneficials are available from suppliers. You can also
check the web page for a world list of biocontrol suppliers at: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/doc/dprdocs/goodbug/benefic.htm
Chemical - Oil spray. Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or
hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Whitefly, Silverleaf (Bemisia
argentifolii)
Order: Homoptera; Family: Aleyrodidae 
Description:
Adult, yellow body, white wings with white powdery wax held rooflike over body,
(1/16") 2 mm length. Eggs, tiny, football shape, upright, under leaves, cream
colored when fresh to brown when ready to hatch. Nymph, four instars ranging from
tiny to small, clear to yellow, oval, flat scale-like and immobile under leaves, excrete
honeydew like aphids on which sooty mold grows. Pupae, like nymphs but larger, less
flat and with red eyes.
Range: Key pest in south and central Florida.
Life Cycle:
1st instar (oblong) is only mobile nymph moving up to several millimeters. 2nd and 3rd
instars are more elliptical and flat. 2 - 4 weeks required for complete cycle depending on
temperature.
Hosts/Damage:
Adults found usually under leaves. Plant debilitation, sooty mold, irregular ripening
of tomatoes, vector of tomato mottle geminivirus.
Controls:
Cultural - Sticky bands.
Biological - There is a good biological control program available for white fly using
the parasite Encarsia formosa and predatory lady beetle Delphastus pusillus. A good book
on this topic with color pictures of pests and beneficials is available: "Biological
Pest Management for Interior Plantscapes", M.Steiner et al, Government of Alberta
Publication Services, 11510 Kingsway Ave., Edmonton, Alta., Canada T5G 2Y5 for a cost of
$2.50. For best success a number of steps should be followed:
1/ Make sure you have identified the pest correctly, greenhouse whitefly are controlled
more easily than sweet potato whitefly.
2/ Inspect and treat all new plants to prevent re-infestation.
3/ Monitor on a weekly or bi-weekly basis using sticky yellow traps or "trap
plants" that are attractive to whitefly.
4/ Make sure the plant growing environment is suitable for biological control (eg.
temperature, humidity and hours of daylight).
4/ Apply biological control agents at recommended rates and timing.
5/ Adjust any unbalances by increasing rates, removing susceptible plants or spot
spraying with integrable products such as, Enstar, Trounce or insecticidal soap (lists of
other pesticides that are easy on beneficials are available from suppliers. You can also
check the web page for a world list of biocontrol suppliers at: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/doc/dprdocs/goodbug/benefic.htm
Chemical - Oil spray. Various other sprays and baits are available at your nursery or
hardware store. Follow label instructions carefully to avoid injury to your plant,
yourself, your pets or the environment.
Last edited: 07/10/98 01:45 AM
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