Pests & diseases › Whiteflies
Whiteflies
Tiny white moth-like insects on leaf undersides. Plume up when disturbed. Major pest in warm climates and greenhouses.
Symptoms
- Clouds of tiny white insects rising when plants disturbed
- Sticky honeydew on lower leaves
- Sooty mold on the honeydew
- Stunted yellowed growth
Lifecycle
Year-round in warm climates and greenhouses. Multiple generations per year.
What to do
- Yellow sticky traps in greenhouse
- Encarsia formosa biological control
- Insecticidal soap on leaf undersides
- Neem oil
If it's bad
- Pyrethrin — repeat every 5 days as eggs hatch
Stop it coming back
- Inspect nursery plants before bringing inside
- Reflective mulch (silver plastic) confuses adults
- Encourage ladybugs and lacewings
Crops it goes for
Beefsteak Tomato
Cherry Tomato
Early Season Tomato
Heat Tolerant Tomato
Heirloom Tomato
Hot Chilli
Main Season Tomato
Medium Chilli
Mild Chilli
Paste Tomato
Patio Tomato
Specialty Chilli
Super Hot Chilli
Plan the plot, track every sowing, cook the harvest
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.