Community Education on Environment and Development

Common Plant Pests

Whitefly

Characteristics:

Whiteflies are tiny, sap-sucking insects related to aphids. The adults, which look like tiny white moths, fly up in a cloud when disturbed. Like aphids, they secrete honeydew, which attracts ants and fosters sooty mold. Columns of ants moving up and down a plant may also indicate a whitefly problem. Ants protect whiteflies from their natural predators in order to maintain a supply of honeydew. Controlling the ants may allow natural predators to help you manage this pest.

Some whiteflies transmit viruses. Whiteflies prefer warm weather and are common in greenhouses.

Remedies:

Green lacewing
Insecticidal soap
Parasitic wasp
Sticky trap

Hosts:

Vegetables

Home :: About Us :: North Fraser FreeNet :: Campaign for Pesticide Reduction