White Flies

About this pest

Whiteflies: Tiny Wings, Big Trouble for South African Plants

Those fluttering white specs on your beloved South African plants might seem harmless, but they’re whiteflies, notorious plant pests capable of causing significant damage. Let’s take a closer look at these tiny troublemakers:

Physical Characteristics:

• Size: Minute! Adults are only about 1-2mm long, with delicate white wings and a soft, yellow body.
• Movement: Flutter easily on slight air currents, often gathering on the undersides of leaves.
• Life cycle: Lay tiny eggs on leaves, and nymphs quickly hatch, sucking plant sap and excreting a sticky substance called honeydew.

Common South African Names:

• Witvlieg (Afrikaans)
• Plantluis (Afrikaans) – Plant louse
• Blaarblaaskewers (Afrikaans) – Blister beetle (misnomer)

Why are Whiteflies Pests?

• Plant sap feeders: They weaken plants by sucking valuable nutrients, leading to stunted growth, yellowing, and leaf drop.
• Honeydew producers: Their sticky honeydew attracts ants and other pests, while promoting fungal growth like sooty mold.
• Virus transmission: Some whitefly species can transmit harmful plant viruses, causing further damage and yield losses.
• Wide range of hosts: Attack a variety of plants, including vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, and even houseplants.

Combatting Whiteflies:

Monitoring: Regularly inspect leaf undersides for whiteflies, nymphs, and sticky honeydew.

Natural methods:

• • • Encourage natural predators: Lacewings, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps feed on whiteflies.
    • Neem oil spray: Disrupts their feeding and development.
    • Insecticidal soap spray: Can kill whiteflies on contact, but reapplication might be needed.

Cultural practices:

• • • Yellow sticky traps: Attract and trap adult whiteflies, reducing their population.
    • Strong water sprays: Dislodge whiteflies and nymphs from leaves.
    • Diatomaceous earth: Creates a physical barrier against crawling nymphs.

Chemical control: Use registered insecticides specifically targeting whiteflies as a last resort due to environmental impact and potential harm to beneficial insects.

Remember:

• Early detection and intervention are crucial to prevent significant damage from whiteflies.
• Combine multiple control methods for a sustainable approach, prioritizing natural and organic strategies whenever possible.
• Identify the specific whitefly species affecting your plants for targeted control measures.

By understanding the biology and behaviour of whiteflies and implementing proactive steps, you can protect your South African plants from these tiny terrors and keep your garden thriving.