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swarms of white flies came into garden with compost

4 years ago

Could use some advice. My yard helpers put down my fall top dressing of compost day before yesterday. What I thought were gnats that came with that 4 yds. morphed into white flies. There are clouds of them. Swarming around rose and perennials.Too late for purchasing more ladybugs and rather not harm any beneficials left in my garden or bees and butterflies. I read Insecticidal Soap but that seems too mild for such a heavy infestation. Have some strong stuff but hate to use. Does anyone know if Avid or Florimite helps with white fly. I know those products do not harm bees etc. i need some “big guns” not harmful to the good guys.

Featured Answer

jerijen

4 years ago

One thing I do know ... their life is said to be so brief, regular insecticides kill them, but that isn't a big help. You need to kill the egg colonies, underneath the leaves.
We had a massive outbreak here of Giant Whitefly. The damned things were everywhere -- clouds of them.

Their eggs coated the undersides of the leaves of begonias, hibiscus, pelargoniums. Not so much roses.
Finally, the State released a predatory insect that took care of them. Thank God.

Now, we see them rarely, and the thing most-affected is begonias. Which is why we don't have much in the way of begonias any more.

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Comments (6)

Austin
Original Author
4 years ago
Clarification: I know Avid and Florimate kill white fly on contact but unclear about residual for them. Florimite last 21 days and I had sprayed for RRD mites previously. Thxs.
sharon2079
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I have had terrible white fly..... try Bug B Gone......

I also have Avid. I use that for miticide..... it will help supress whiteflies... but you will have to use it more than once to get the whiteflies under control.... DO NOT DO THAT... because it will make the mites resistant to it and you will have a mite problem....
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Really that bad? I usually have swarms of Whiteflies so bad in the front. it's embarrasing when someone walks up to the front door. I noticed they had eggs laid all under my Hollys in front. The Hollys were very old and ugly. I cut them down and put out on the street. This Summer I did't see hardly any. I have heard they usually find a host plant and gravitate towards that. They are particularly fond of Privet (Yuck I don't know why Lol). I was thinking because of the really hot and dry Summer perhaps not many eggs hatched. Anyway back to your original question. It is rather late in the year for this, but next Spring you can try. Purchase a box of ladybugs. You can get online for about 12.00 for 1500 or so. Spray your plants that are having the problems with Whiteflies. so they are damp and release the Lady bugs. They will stay where is damp and plenty of food is present. They will lay eggs, and the lady bug larva (which look like tiny little gila monsters) will devour the whitefly larva before they can mature. Another trick(providing you don't have pets) is use the old fashioned kind of snail and slug bait. The Whitefly larva love it and eat it, then die before they can mature. I hope this is helpful.
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Austin
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Sharon and jerijen, I had yard guard so sprayed the swarms after shaking bushes. It worked. I hope they are lazy about procreating they have only been here a couple of days. I googled but could not find if the Florimite works on white fly. Bushes had been sprayed with that earlier. Will call them tomorrow. I read Conserve works for white and last longer than Avid and doesn’t harm good bugs. Comes in quart and $$ so will wait to see if I have eggs before I buy. Thanks again Folks
ruthz
4 years ago
Please tell us the brand of compost. I want to avoid that kind next time I buy.
Austin
Original Author
4 years ago
California Crossing location in Dallas, Living Earth. I have used them since they started in Houston. They are a great company wonderful products, mix it specific to your location. I spoke to owner in Houston and they were shocked and concerned. He is checking Dallas for solution and someone to help with my garden. Everyone can have an issue but how you handle it what tells the story. We shall see how this moves forward, I will keep you posted.

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