White flies are little snow-colored insects that look similar to moths. However, in order to see this you need to look very, very closely – or get a magnifying glass. These tiny insects can do a lot of damage and though they may be called flies, they are not flies. And though they resemble moths, they are not moths.
Rather, these little pests are more closely related to insects. Their powdery-like wings may even give them a kind of harmless look, but they can actually do a great deal of damage to gardens and plants in general. White flies feed off of plant juices, which they suck directly from the plant. This can harm and eventually lead to death of the plant. Moreover, white flies secrete a liquid called honeydew that can glaze over plants and provide a growing place for fungi which can in turn damage the plant even further.
Little Insect, Big Impact
It can be surprising to learn of all the damage that these little insects can do. White flies have lead to the destruction of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of agricultural crops. Infestations occur because white flies breed rapidly and love the tropical and subtropical regions – which makes Florida a prime location to live.
The honeydew liquid they secrete has been known to damage cotton plants, and white flies are also associated with spreading dozens of different vegetable diseases such as bean golden mosaic, tomato mottle, bean dwarf mosaic, African cassava mosaic, and tomato yellow-leaf curl.
Suspect an Infestation?
If you believe you have a white fly infestation, you should quickly contact professionals. Many species of white fly have become immune to many pesticides, which is why smart pest control companies in Florida are researching other ways to take out infestations. The right Brevard County pest control service will use varying methods if necessary in order to take care of your white fly problem. Green methods are proving to be better overall than pesticides, and these may very well be the answer.
Get a free evaluation today to discover the extent of your white fly problem and talk to the technician in order to discover what can be done. If left unchecked, white flies may destroy your garden and then move on to your neighbor’s and grow in number to become a serious issue. Stop them today and slow the spread of white flies.