Whiteflies are notorious for feeding on the sap of plants, resulting in weakened growth, yellowing leaves, and a general decline of plants. These sap-sacking insects also transmit plant diseases and excrete honeydew, which attracts ants and causes sooty mold.
Given their rapid reproduction rate, whiteflies can quickly establish large populations in your garden, making controlling them challenging. Your battle with these persistent pests can seem like an unending war.
However, don’t fret; there are multiple methods you can rely on to manage get rid of whiteflies. In this post, we’ll cover these strategies comprehensively.
7 Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Whiteflies
Let’s start with natural methods as gardeners increasingly favor them.
1. Spray Your Plants With Neem Oil
Neem oil has earned its place as a reliable pest control product with potent yet eco-friendly properties. You can depend on it to help eradicate whiteflies. Neem oil not only repels pests but also disrupts their life cycle.
This versatile solution will repel whiteflies with its bitter taste and pungent aroma. On the other hand, azadirachtin disrupts the hormonal systems of whiteflies, inhibiting their ability to grow, molt, and reproduce.
In addition, spraying neem oil on your plants makes them less palatable to whiteflies, deterring these insects from feeding on them. You can also suffocate whitefly nymphs and adults by spraying neem oil directly on them.
2. Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is remarkably effective against whiteflies. It can take on a swarm of these tiny insects with precision and efficacy, but it works on contact, meaning you must spray it directly on them.
Upon contact, the insecticidal soap penetrates the whiteflies’ delicate outer coating, causing their cell membranes to collapse. This leads to dehydration and, ultimately, their eradication. It can also block their airways, suffocating them.
Besides its effectiveness, insecticidal soap is simple and safe. You can use it freely in your garden without worrying about harmful residues or adverse environmental impacts. Moreover, it won’t harm beneficial insects.
You can use insecticidal soap indoors and outdoors.
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3. Use Yellow Sticky Traps
Yellow is the Achilles heel of many insects, including whiteflies; they cannot resist it. So, setting up yellow sticky traps is akin to putting up a bright, welcoming sign they simply cannot ignore. Once the whiteflies approach, the sticky surface of the trap ensnares them.
With this simple mechanism, you can effectively reduce the whitefly population in your home, preventing them from feeding on your plants and laying more eggs.
Apart from helping you capture whiteflies, sticky traps help gauge the extent of the infestation. Regularly check your traps to assess whether you’ve gotten the whitefly population under control or require additional measures.
4. Dislodge Whiteflies With Water Spray
Sometimes, water’s simplicity and effectiveness are all you need to eradicate whiteflies. Arm yourself with a garden hose and turn the tide against those pesky invaders with the power of a refreshing shower.
Direct the water jet at the undersides of leaves to wash them away, sweeping the whiteflies off their leafy perches and sending them tumbling into the soil below. Whiteflies will struggle to survive if they cannot cling to your plants.
5. Garlic Spray
Garlic’s strong, pungent aroma is absolutely unbearable to pests like whiteflies. Garlic disrupts the whiteflies’ sensory systems, making it hard for them to locate and feed on your plants. Therefore, shield your garden from these tiny invaders with garlic spray.
6. Beneficial Insects
Having beneficial insects in your garden is like having a whitefly control army. Lacewings, ladybugs, predatory mites, and parasitic wasps consume whiteflies, thus helping get their population under control.
Lady bugs, in particular, have an insatiable hunger for whiteflies and their larvae, devouring hundreds of them daily. Moreover, in their larvae stage, lacewings hunt down and feast on whiteflies and other soft-bodied insects.
As for parasitic wasps, release Encarsia Formosa or Eretmocerus eremicus into your garden’s infested areas. These tiny insects lay their eggs inside whitefly larvae, and when the eggs hatch, the emerging wasp larvae consume the whiteflies from within.
7. Reflective Mulch
If you can successfully confuse and disorient whiteflies, it will be hard for them to find and attract your plants. Reflective mulch, like silver-colored plastic or aluminum foil, is suitable for this job. Lay this mulch around your plants’ bases.
When sunlight hits the mulch, it reflects off the surface, creating a dazzling display that confounds whiteflies. This will deter these pesky pests from settling in your garden. As a bonus, the reflective mulch will help regulate soil temperature and retain moisture.
7. Vacuum Them
You can quickly knock out a whitefly population indoors and outdoors with your vacuum cleaner. Gently move the vacuum nozzle across the infested plant areas to remove the whiteflies from your plants. A vacuum allows you to target specific areas with accuracy.
You can quickly clear away whiteflies before they spread further.
Chemical Control Methods to Get Rid Of Whiteflies
You may need to consider chemical interventions if natural methods aren’t as effective or if you’re dealing with a severe whitefly infestation.
a) Horticultural Oils
These oils smother and suffocate pests. When you spray your plants with horticultural oil, it forms a thin, even coating that clings to the whiteflies and their eggs. This oily barrier effectively cuts off their air supply.
Horticultural oils also make plants less palatable to whiteflies. Since horticultural oils are non-toxic to humans, pets, and most beneficial insects, you can use them confidently, knowing you’re not harming your garden’s delicate balance.
These oils don’t lead to pest resistance as they operate quietly and efficiently, ensuring the whiteflies don’t have a chance to adapt. Horticultural oil also eradicates other pests like spider mites and aphids.
To use this versatile weapon in your garden, mix the horticultural oil with water and spray it on the affected plants, covering both the upper and lower leaf surfaces.
b) Systemic Insecticides
These specially formulated chemicals turn every part of plants into an inhospitable environment for pests. This is because when you spray directly on your plants or apply it to the soil with systemic insecticides, they are absorbed into the tissues.
When whiteflies feed on the plant’s sap from a treated plant, they unknowingly ingest the insecticide. This disrupts their nervous system, leading to their swift demise.
Typically, you should use systemic insecticides as a last resort. Nonetheless, they remain formidable weapons against whiteflies. Besides being incredibly efficient, systemic insecticides offer long-lasting, targeted protection.
c) Pyrethrin Sprays
Since pyrethrins are derived from the chrysanthemum flower, they are fairly safe. These insecticides attack the whitefly’s nervous system upon contact, causing immediate paralysis. Pyrethrin sprays are biodegradable but can still be toxic to beneficial insects if applied indiscriminately.
Synthetic versions (pyrethroids) of these sprays exist. They are chemically modified versions of pyrethrins and tend to be more stable and longer-lasting than their natural counterparts.
How To Prevent Whiteflies
You can prevent a whitefly infestation before it begins. Below are different ways to do so:
i) Isolate New Plants
Make sure you are not unwittingly introducing whiteflies to your home by quarantining new plants, as they can harbor whiteflies. Isolating them gives you an opportunity to observe them for any signs of pests or diseases that might not be immediately visible.
Quarantining new plants minimizes the risk of introducing whiteflies to your healthy plants. Carefully inspect new plants for visible signs of whiteflies, such as whitefly adults, nymphs, eggs, or leaf damage. After that, keep them in a designated area away from your main garden, but first, treat any infested plants.
ii) Companion Planting
Some plants naturally repel whiteflies and, hence, can help protect your garden from these insects. For instance, marigolds, basil, and nasturtiums are known to deter whiteflies with their strong fragrances and chemical compounds.
Plant these protective allies alongside your susceptible plants to create a barrier that keeps whiteflies at bay. You can also attract beneficial insects that consume whiteflies through companion planting, aiding your natural pest control efforts. For example, flowers like sweet alyssum and yarrow draw in ladybugs and lacewings, which feast on whiteflies and their larvae.
iii) Maintain Your Plants’ Health
Keeping your plants healthy makes them less vulnerable to pests. Well-nourished and thriving plants have robust natural defenses, making them less attractive to whiteflies. Nutrient-rich soil, adequate watering, and good air circulation significantly contribute to a plant’s health.
It would help if you also chose pest and disease-resistant plant varieties. These plants can better withstand the challenges posed by whiteflies and other pests.
iv) Inspect Your Plants Regularly
Keep a close eye on your plants. This way, you can catch any whitefly invaders before they set up camp. Aside from spotting an infestation early, regular checks help you monitor your plants’ overall health. Remember, pests are less attracted to healthy plants.
Conclusion
Whiteflies can destroy food crops, ornamental plants, and even native vegetation, so keeping their populations in check is important. Persistence and effective methods are vital in your battle with these pests. Whether you prefer organic gardening techniques or resort to chemical controls, approach the process responsibly to protect your plants and the environment. Remember that whiteflies multiply quickly, so act fast.
I’m Mike Hyle, an exterminator with 7+ years of experience handling all sorts of pests, including mice, cockroaches, bed bugs, and termites. I also write for Pest Solutions DIY blog to share my knowledge and help homeowners keep their homes pest-free. Outside work, I enjoy hunting, snowshoeing, and exploring nature. Check out my blog for helpful pest control tips!