[Arid_gardener] Re: Witeflies in the NW Valley

[Olin Miller]

The Surprise/Sun City areas are close to the cotton fields that harbor the
whiteflies until cotton pickin' time when they move into nearby areas.
Control is difficult because they may come in waves only a few days apart
or, sometimes within the same day.  It is the larvae on the foliage, not the
winged adults, that do the damage.  The same methods used for aphids will
also control the larvae.  See "Whiteflies in the Low Desert" at
http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/bugs/whitefly.htm
for suggestions.  The UC Davis "Whiteflies" at
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7401.html
may also be helpful.

The whiteflies can be avoided for susceptible annuals by waiting to plant
until the cooler weather when they become inactive, usually mid October but
much later this year.  For susceptible perennials, the recommended soap
solution applied to the underside of leaves several times per week when the
whiteflies are active may be the best solution.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
============================================

 ----- Original Message ----- From: <krisslovescats at hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 4:47 PM
> 85338
> I have an infestation of whitefly. They showed up last October but I
> negleteced to do anything about it and the few plants soon died and I
> discarded them. With the plants gone I didn't give the pests any more
> though. Last summer I planted some lantana and a few more ornimentals in
> the same area and within a month the whitefly were covering the plants.
> Now they are so bad that when I bring a new plant into the area the
> whitefly are on it in a matter of hours. Is there something I can do to
> finally rid my garden of these pests. I have sprayed using commercial
> products but it doesn't seem to have worked. Please HELP!