Giant Whitefly
| Q Bugs that look like oversize whiteflies have=20 infested my ficus. What are they, and how can I get rid of = them?=20 Steve C - San Luis Obispo=20 A |
The adult giant whitefly, compared to the miniscule common = whitefly, is=20 nearly one quarter of an inch long and easily visible to the naked = eye.=20 However, both kinds are difficult to control. Whiteflies usually = lay their=20 eggs on the undersides of leaves and develop through four nymphal = stages.=20 All stages suck juices from plants.After hatching, giant whitefly = nymphs=20 produce long filaments of wax (up to two inches long) that can = give=20 infested leaves a bearded appearance, often mistaken for fungus.=20
Adult giant whiteflies leave spirals of wax as they walk on = leaves.=20 Eggs are often laid among the wax deposits. Because giant whitefly = adults=20 tend to remain where they develop, they may colonize only small = portions=20 of plants, so it is possible to eliminate a developing problem by = plucking=20 off affected leaves and branches.Place this material in sealed = bags and=20 dispose of it to avoid spreading the insects, and inspect plants = regularly=20 to catch any stragglers.=20
A strong jet of water on the undersides of infested leaves can = be=20 effective in managing, if not eliminating, giant whitefly. Studies = show=20 that weekly syringing is as effective as any possible chemical = control,=20 and it has the advantage of not killing natural enemies of the = whitefly.=20