How To Get Rid Of White Flies

Background.

The whiteflies, comprising only the family Aleyrodidae, are small hemipterans. Whiteflies typically feed on the underside of plant leaves.

Species.

There are over 1500 Species of white flies, but the four most common that we find in California are:

• The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, is a major pest of many fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops, frequently being found in glasshouses.

• The citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi, is a pest of citrus crops.

• The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii, is a pest of a number of agricultural and ornamental crops.

• The cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella is a pest of various Brassica species.

How Do White Flies Get In.

White Flies are attracted to dust and susceptible plants.

How To Keep White Flies Out.

• Use aluminum-coated construction paper or reflective plastic mulch products.

• Lay the product on bare soil, bury its edges with soil, and insert seedlings or seeds into holes that you make in the mulch.

• Plastic mulches require drip irrigation underneath them; paper mulches can be sprinkle or furrow irrigated.

• Mulches repel white flies and other small flying insects such as aphids while plants are small. Remove mulches when plants get large and temperatures get hot.

Professional Extermination Method.

Our technicians are trained in the use of out systemic products, which are absorbed into the plant, and acct as a repellant to white flies. In severe cases our cases our technicians would be required to make an application to the infest plan.

For more information contact Berrett's Orange County Pest Control Office at 888.250.5503

For more methods on how to get rid of White Flies check out UC Davis: Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program

*Cited from UC Davis Integrated Pest Management Program & Wikipedia