They’re BAAACK!

As Summer winds down the little white pests appear! Yes whitefly. We had our first customer report of them today.  Not surprising as August and September are usually the months the appear in the largest numbers. Whitefly are commonly found on lantana, hibiscus, rose bushes, and any newly planted fall vegetable plant.  They are pretty easy to spot, just walk by the above mentioned plants and brush up against them or reach out and rustle the limbs and a cloud of white dandruff will erupt from the plants.  For control I like imidacloprid on landscape plants, it is easy, safe, and effective. For control on vegetables almost any of the neem oil type sprays work and they are very safe and environmentally friendly. They key is to use regularly or follow directions for frequency as these ultralights blow around in the wind every day and find new places to live and they also breed fast and fruiously.  Be sure also to keep plants fertilized and watered very regularly as any plant that is slightly stressed will not be able to fight off these rascals.  Also covering new vegetable seedlings with a frost cloth/grow cover material is effective!