Whitefly- organic control (if any)?

 

Would organic controls for aphids (predators where possible and spraying with
soap solution) be effective for whitefly- or do I need other strategies?

--
VX (remove alcohol for email)

 


VX Wrote:

spraying

Natural enemies of aphids are not normally effective on whiteflies.
The
predators might take a few whitefly larvae but the parasitoids
definitely won't.
 You'll have to use specific parasitoids for whitefly
and Encarsia formosa and
Eretmocerus eremicus are both commercially
available.  'Just Green' actually do
a dual pack containing both
wasps.

If your whitefly problems are only just beginning (ie. you are only
seeing a
sporadic appearance of the adults with no juveniles on the
lower leaves), then a
weekly application of a sufactant product would
be the best strategy to control
things.  SB Plant Invigorator is
currently having some very good reviews at the
moment.


--
Pest Effects

 


VX wrote:

They are related to each others and I treat them in the same way - I
zap them off the leaves and branches with my hose pipes, spray soapy
water on them or rub them off with my finger and cut branches/leaves
which are heavily infected. I actually find whiteflies easier to knock
off their perches - perhaps their larger wings destabilise them :o)

 


And if they are in a greenhouse, those yellow sticky strips put just
above the source are pretty good at helping control - shake the plant so
the flies rise - and a good number get stuck

--
regards   andyw