How to eliminate whiteflies?
How to eliminate whiteflies?
Whiteflies fly and reproduce quickly; eliminating them requires patience and sustained effort.
Timing of spraying
- Morning or evening, whiteflies are less active at lower temperatures, making these the best times to spray.
- Avoid spraying at midday when temperatures are high and whiteflies are active and will fly away.
- Choose windless days for spraying.
Application method
- Leaf undersides are the main target, adults, nymphs, and eggs are all on the undersides.
- Lift leaves and spray from below upward.
- Spray until the undersides are dripping, ensuring full coverage.
- Also spray the soil surface and surrounding countertops to kill fallen insects.
Why multiple sprays are needed
Whiteflies have severe overlapping generations, eggs, nymphs, pupae, and adults coexist on the same plant:
- Sprays containing dinotefuran are effective against adults and nymphs.
- But they are less effective against eggs.
- Therefore, one spray cannot kill all life stages; reapply at 5-7 day intervals.
- About 3 consecutive sprays are needed to cover the entire life cycle.
- Leaf undersides must be sprayed until dripping.
Integrated control
- Yellow sticky traps, whiteflies are strongly attracted to yellow; place traps 10-20 cm above plants for mass trapping.
- Remove old leaves, pick off heavily damaged older leaves to reduce population density.
- Isolate, immediately isolate plants with whiteflies.
- Remove leaves before spraying, old, heavily damaged leaves have the most eggs; remove them before spraying for better results.