Q. I am new to gardening in the desert and am surprised at
my success thus far! That is, until the whiteflies came. It is August and
they are on EVERYTHING!! I started with
insecticidal soap on the undersides of the leaves and I see dead flies there. I
am getting ready to plant all new Vegetable crops for fall but need to get a handle on
these flies before subjecting new plants to these insatiable pests.
my success thus far! That is, until the whiteflies came. It is August and
they are on EVERYTHING!! I started with
insecticidal soap on the undersides of the leaves and I see dead flies there. I
am getting ready to plant all new Vegetable crops for fall but need to get a handle on
these flies before subjecting new plants to these insatiable pests.
A. Whiteflies are a very tough insect to control once they
get established in the numbers you are talking about. Females lay a couple
hundred eggs at a time and these hatch and develop into sexually mature adults
in about six weeks.
get established in the numbers you are talking about. Females lay a couple
hundred eggs at a time and these hatch and develop into sexually mature adults
in about six weeks.
.JPG) |
| Whiteflies on pomegranateNoticed they are on the bottom sides of the leaves. |
Conventional pesticides have not
been very effective on whiteflies due to the development of resistance to
applied pesticides. Now we rely on a more integrative approach to try to get a
handle on controlling them.
been very effective on whiteflies due to the development of resistance to
applied pesticides. Now we rely on a more integrative approach to try to get a
handle on controlling them.
This includes the use of oils and
soaps when temperatures permit, yellow sticky boards that are renewed on a
regular basis, reflective mulches such as aluminum foil, planting trap crops such
as squash, hand picking heavily infected leaves early in the season, hand
vacuuming, and others.
soaps when temperatures permit, yellow sticky boards that are renewed on a
regular basis, reflective mulches such as aluminum foil, planting trap crops such
as squash, hand picking heavily infected leaves early in the season, hand
vacuuming, and others.
 |
| Yellow sticky trap in greenhouse. |
You need to stay on top of this
pest early in the season if you expect some control. Their numbers explode when
it gets hot. When plants are still small, remove the bottom leaves close to the
ground. These usually get infested first and they are impossible to spray on both
top and bottom sides of the leaves which you must do.
pest early in the season if you expect some control. Their numbers explode when
it gets hot. When plants are still small, remove the bottom leaves close to the
ground. These usually get infested first and they are impossible to spray on both
top and bottom sides of the leaves which you must do.
Get on a regular spray program at
their first sign, alternating with soaps and oils. Spray at least weekly both
the underside and tops of the leaves. You will need a backpack sprayer if you
have lots of plants or you might consider purchasing a fogger to apply
pesticides.
their first sign, alternating with soaps and oils. Spray at least weekly both
the underside and tops of the leaves. You will need a backpack sprayer if you
have lots of plants or you might consider purchasing a fogger to apply
pesticides.
.JPG) |
| Solo backpack sprayer |
Foggers are quite effective but must be
used when there is no wind. Use yellow sticky cards supported over the crop and
replace it weekly. These can be used to help predict when to spray.
used when there is no wind. Use yellow sticky cards supported over the crop and
replace it weekly. These can be used to help predict when to spray.
Trap crops that attract whiteflies, like
squash, may also help. Squash plants strongly attract whiteflies and help to
deter them from infesting other crops in the garden. Sometimes it may be easier
to remove severely infested plants and replant.
squash, may also help. Squash plants strongly attract whiteflies and help to
deter them from infesting other crops in the garden. Sometimes it may be easier
to remove severely infested plants and replant.
I LIKE IT. I AM PLANNING TO TRANSLATE IT INTO PASHTO AND DARI LANGUAGES TO POST IT ON MY BLOG. NAHZATULLAH NAHZAT
Nahzat I can provide more postings if you want to start a blog in Afghanistan like this.
This is so interesting because I've read that pomegranates are relatively pest free. With your experience, have you found that there are common pests that go after pomegranates? – Vivian
The most common pest in southern Nevada is the leaf footed plant bug. The picture in the posting is of whiteflies on pomegranate in Afghanistan when I was there working. However, ash whitefly has been documented as a common pest of pomegranate but I have not seen it causing extreme damage to the crop. In other parts of the world the carob moth is a very destructive pest on pomegranates but not yet documented in the US yet. If anyone wants to see this pest I do have some pics I can post.