Insect Identification: Whitefly

          When most people think of doing pest control around the house, they are usually thinking of just that. Spraying insecticides, putting out traps, applying bait around the perimeter of the home. Truth be told, most pest control is done in and around the house. Beyond that many people then look to their yards, the grass as the next most likely place to be treated for annoying bugs. But areas such as flower beds, planted trees and other landscaping often go overlooked. The fact of the matter is those areas are just as susceptible to insect infestations as the home itself. And because these areas typically are not given preventative pest maintenance coupled with large numbers of prime habitat, insect populations can be particularly prolific and detrimental to host plants.

            One insect that meets the criteria above is the Whitefly. With over 1500 species identified, the Whitefly is a parasitic pest who feeds and survives off of plant life such as crops, trees, palms and many other host plants. An infestation of Whitefly appears as vast number of small white dots that appear on the underside of plant foliage. Since most plants are near other plants, transfer of the Whitefly from one host to another happens rapidly. Whitefly feed on host plants by tapping into the phloem of the plant which provides the nutrients to all parts of the plant. Phloem is similar to the human vascular system. Removal of vital nutrients from the plants does damage to the foliage of the host plant. Coupled with mold that is created from the honeydew that Whiteflies secrete, damage to plants happens in a short period of time once this pest appears.

Prevention and Control of Whitefly

            Take some time this weekend and go out into the yard to inspect your plants. Practically all types of plants are susceptible to Whitefly infestation so you will want to be as thorough as possible. Inspect each plant individually making sure to look at the underside of the foliage as this is where the pest makes its home. You are looking for small white dots attached to the greenery. If you find some, it may require more thorough inspection as often times White Powdery Mildew, a fungus, can be mistaken for Whitefly. Research online for pictures of both and once you determined that it is in fact Whitefly; you will want to treat all the plants in that area to eliminate and prevent the pest. One good choice is a product called Malathion 57%. This chemical has been around for a long time, and while it does have an odor, it can be used to spray directly on fruit bearing plants such as citrus trees.  As long as the fruit is washed, it is safe to eat as early as two weeks after application. Another excellent product is Imidacloprid 2F which is designed to be applied to the soil around plants and trees and then absorbed through the plant roots and eventually makes its way into the foliage through the Phloem.