Re: white fly control

-- [ From: for-pac * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

We have had problems of those pesky things too. We've used the best of
chemicals controls and the simplicity of sticky traps, all of which had
mixed results.

Its really understanding the lifecycle of the whitefly that gives the best
opportunity for control. They lay eggs constantly, and although the sticky
traps catch many of the adults, a day or two later, there are at least as
many new ones. To continually keep the cycle going reduces the productivity
and joy of growing stuff like peppers.

There is a biological control, a predatory bug, but I can't seem to find any
info. on them.

The white fly does well in moist hot conditions, and they prefer certain
plants (like peppers), so what we did, is when the peppers were big enough,
moved them out of the greenhouse, used Safers Insecticidal Soap every day
for a week to knock out emerging adults, and use sticky traps to monitor
population build-ups. They are a tough one to control once they going, and
the simpler less chemical apporach is the best way to go. 

That's our two-cents worth.

for-pac
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

Date: Tuesday, 29-Dec-98 03:23 PM

From: Lorraine Hoag            \ Internet:    (grdnr4u@syix.com) To:  
veggie-list@eskimo.com   \ Internet:    (veggie-list@eskimo.com)

Subject: white fly control

I know this is out of season but am preparing an article for the master
gardener newsletter and thought I would pass on the information. One of our
master gardeners is an herb farmer and sells at the local farmers market. In
her green house she has found pretty good control of her white fly problem
by placing the problem plants in a circle, surrounding the plants with
yellow sticky traps then spraying them with pepper spray. She buys the
pepper spray from Burpee catalog as she must account for any spray she uses
to the state and it is easier to be able to use a product name. However you
could probably make a pepper spray yourself.  When she sprays the pepper the
clouds of white fly rise up and are caught on the sticky traps. She has to
change traps occasionally and of course does it more than one time. She
feels it is worthwhile.  I think this is a pretty snazzy way to rid plants
of the horrid white fly. She and I both are using neem for other insect
control with mixed success. It is a product that must be applied more than a
couple of times also but we feel we want to stay as organic as we can.



-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
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