[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

It sounds, based on what you have written, like you have a white fly infestation but these will take to the air  like a cloud around the foliage when disturbed and quickly land again. These sucking insects aren't killed dead by the soap solution but are suffocated by the soap film. So it is apparent that the coverage must completely envelope the insect that always feeds from the underside of the leaves.  If you don't spray there, the spray is not very effective. The second disturbed they take flight. It you are a crack shot, you may get some on the wing but, if you are lucky enough to get them all, there will still be another herd in egg sacs ready to chow down when hatched. I think the usual recommemdation is for one tablespoon of common dish soap per gallon of water. It is necessary to spray several times to get control. I have suggested that the surest control is to catch them, spread their hind legs, castrate the males so they can't breed and turn them loose. No one has yet said that the technique didn't work but one gardenerete asked, "How do you tell which are the males?"

Hybiscus seems to attract white flies but it is possible that it keeps them from attacking neighboring plants.

Or, you may have an attack by aphids. If they don't fly when disturbed, take an infested leaf to your favorite Retail Nurseryman to whom aphid control is an elementary matter that can be controlled by something off his shelf. I have never used a soap solution for Aphids so I don't know if it will work. 

When you have gained the upper hand, how about sharing your success or failure with this forum so that we might all learn.
 
Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona Maricopa County
Cooperative Extension
Bcc: azcrfg; vosg

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rchristian at mail.mc.maricopa.edu>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 10:52 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Rod Christian
> 85048
> rchristian at mail.mc.maricopa.edu
> 
> My hybiscus plant has very small white bugs on the leaves that appear to cause the plant's leaves to curl, not mature, and turn yellow.  I've sprayed the plant with light detergent solution with no result and then with bug spray with no result. Now what should I do?  Thanks for your attention.
> 
> 
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