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Plant in well prepared fertile land to promote plant vigour
Cover nursery with agro nets (size 400 µm) for 3-5 weeks to exclude whiteflies from the crop
Conserve natural enemies (wasps, ladybirds) by mulching or leaving a natural hedge of flowering plants (e.g. Tithonia, Lantana) along the edges to offer them refuge
Plant repellent crops such as coriander or Mexican marigold around the edge of the field
Keep the field weed-free throughout the cropping season since weeds act as alternate hosts and can harbour whitefly-transmitted viruses
Monitoring
Adult: A sucking insect, about 1 mm long. The body and wings are covered in a powdery, white to slightly yellowish in colour
Larva: yellow-white scales, 0.3-0.6 mm long
Puparium: flat, irregular, oval shape, 0.7 mm long
Look for whitish brown and pear-shaped eggs on the under side of leaves
15 days after germination monitor weekly until harvest
Search for leaves with whitefly groups (they are mainly on underside of leaves). They will fly and resettle when you shake plants.
Yellowing, curling, crumpling of leaves occurs at heavy infestation.
Whiteflies can transmit viruses which cause virus disease. Leaves will have yellowish green mosaics
Action threshold level is 10-20 plants with symptoms and/or at least 20 whiteflies on at least 10-20 plants/acre
Direct Control
Use yellow sticky traps at about 1 per 5 plants.
Use hot pepper spray at rate of 30 chopped peppers in warm water. Soak for 1 day, dilute in 10 L water and add 20 drops of liquid soap before spraying
Use liquid soap spray at rate of 3 table spoons per litre of water
Direct Control
Restrictions
Alternate active ingredients to prevent development of resistance
Wear protective clothing
Spray early morning or late evening to avoid harming bees
Dispose properly to avoid aquatic contamination
Spray Azadirachtin 0.03% (50 ml/20L water) 15 days when symptoms appear
Not classified by WHO, but considered unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use. PHI 3 days, REI 1 day. Toxic to fishes
Dimethoate (250g/l) + Cypermethrin (35g/l)
WHO Class II (Moderately hazardous); Maximum 3 applications per season. Apply in the morning or later in the day. PHI 14 days, REI 24 hours. Eye and skin irritant. Highly toxic to bees and other non-target arthropods. Toxic to aquatic organisms. Avoid using near water ways.
