White Flys- Where do they live at night

[Link]

My MIL knows she has them and I gave the material on how to get rid of them NP. But her concern is that when she digs up some plants to give to friends at a quilting club are they in the ground? I can find all kind of info on the WWW on getting rid of them but so far nothing on where they go. I'm of the impression that they just stay on the plants, but no one has said that in my reading.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: White Flys- Where do they live at night

I am not familiar with your White Fly.<br />Find a book on Plant Pests and Diseases.<br />Probably at your library.<br />Identify the insect and the book will tell you it's life cycle. That will tell you if it goes to soil at some stage of its life.<br />Maybe a call to your State Ag Dept.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[kd6nem]

Re: White Flys- Where do they live at night

If her friends live nearby they'll likely have them in the neighborhood anyway. At night? Generally on the underside of leaves I think. Perfect time to spray with your favorite potion, just get the underside thoroughly. Personally I like the idea of insecticidal soaps. Easy on the environment. Too bad they're so easy on the pests, though. I usually resort to something a little more potent.<br /><br />Might try, if the type of plant is tolerant, rinsing the roots clean of old soil, wash the underside of all the leaves, then transplant to clean potting soil. Probably have a near 100% kill rate- on the plant as well as the white flies.<br /><br />If caught early enough in the spring/summer, before they get out of hand, purchasing predatory insects from a local nursery can help keep them under control. Has to be the right critter for the right whitefly, though. Could be ladybugs, lacewings, or a VERY tiny but harmless wasp. And release them at night onto the infested plants. Phil is right, talk to the county/state ag people.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: White Flys- Where do they live at night

Use horticultural dormant oil on the trees/plants in early spring, before the buds have reached 1/2 inch in length. Most pest problems that occur on trees and large bushes occur because eggs were laid on the trunks and branches in the fall. The dormant oil suffocates these problem insects when they hatch and become larvae. The oil is safe, environmentally friendly and cheap. The problem can be resolved later in the year by companies that specialize in tree management. We spray trees with Permethrin and it helps somewhat, but dormant spraying in early spring gives best results. as far as where they go at night, they stay in the foliage, on the leaves, in clusters. There in no involvment with the ground whatsoever.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: White Flys- Where do they live at night

Hey Jason,<br />I forgot we could ask our very own Iboats pest control expert! Duh!<br /><br />So how do these critters find a way to come back the next season? I was guessing they somehow hid in the soil?

 

[Link]

Re: White Flys- Where do they live at night

Kiwi Phil <br /> Bearcat Powered <br /> JasonJ <br /><br />Thanks for the input. Tons of information on how to get rid of the buggers out there but very little on how they live. MILs house is surrounded by maybe a acre or two of wooded area in the middle of a city. Except for the house everything is pretty much the way nature left it. No lawn or grass. Just wild plants,flowers and trees.<br /><br />The plants she wants to give to friends (100 miles or more away) she was able to transplant into pots and rid of the white flies but was concerned about them maybe being in the soil.<br /><br />Thanks Jason for clearing that up. <br />BTW BP your idea about using LadyBugs was mentioned in several articles I read.<br /><br />Thanks people

 

[JasonJ]

Re: White Flys- Where do they live at night

Bearcat, its simple numbers. There is so much available harborage for various insect pests that it is near impossible to prevent them from ever appearing again. Unless a person paves a 20 mile radius around their house, build the house out of concrete and steel, and somehow keeps the temp at 20 degrees, something will always show up. The joys of nature....