White flies are tiny, little flies that are almost flat white – except for a brownish-yellow head. They can even be remarkable to look at. Just make sure you’re getting rid of white flies, or they’ll be the only thing left to look at in your garden. White fly control is important because they can cause plants to quickly die off.

What are White Flies?

White flies are related closely to aphids. Despite their flat white appearance, their size means they can be hard to notice if you’re not looking for them. They can be as tiny as 1/12 of an inch. They cluster underneath leaves, so you have to turn them over when looking for them.

What Damage do White Flies Cause?

White flies will primarily target ornamental plants and vegetables. They can be a major agricultural nuisance. They essentially suck the nutrients from plants and leave behind honeydew. Honeydew is a nice-sounding term, but it will very quickly lead to fungal diseases in many cases.

This fungal disease will form on the leaves of plants, blocking their ability to conduct photosynthesis efficiently. Without the ability to take in sunlight through their leaves, plants will wilt. They’ll turn yellow and brown underneath the white fungal disease, and die.

White Fly Pest Control

White flies hide and plant their eggs on the underside of leaves. This may seem like a simple strategy for hiding, but it’s very effective. Check the underside of leaves for them if you suspect white flies are present.

Getting rid of white flies can be accomplished with a few approaches. You can blast plants with your watering hose. This will get rid of some. You can also use insecticidal soap. Even a vacuum can be used to suck up white flies.

Do not use chemical insecticides for white flies. They’re resistant, and you’re more likely to kill the animals that hunt and eat white flies than you are the white flies themselves.

When to Ask for Help

One method of white fly control is through integrated pest control. This involves changing the environment of the garden slightly so that white flies are deterred and plants are better protected. Introducing ladybugs and spiders to the garden can have a more profound impact than insecticides, for instance. A plan like this changes by white fly species, and changes by garden. Contact a Brevard County pest control service for the best results.

Photo: Attribution Text: By gbohne from Berlin, Germany (Greenhouse Whitefly out in forest …) [CC BY-SA 2.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons