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Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Has anyone ever dealt with these destructive little critters, as they are super problem due to their ability to multiply fast with their piercing mouths thus sucking the life out of your plant via. all of your leaves. I have had problems with these bugs for the last 5 yrs of growing, as the migrate here from OK & TX with the wind, as they can not over winter here in this Colo. climate. I have used ( encarsia formosa ) which are paracitic wasps to control them , but the whitefly is so prolific, that it always wins and causes mass destruction. They do this due the inability to irradicate them due to their hiding on the undersides of the pumpkin leaves, Seems nothing gets them,as I have tried various pesticides also which do more harm to the plant than good, which is why I went to biological control for these voracious pests last year, which puts a damper on them , but does not work....Any Input would maybe be helpful, especially from you people in the states where these little buggers came from, and are native to. What a problem they are, a signal the end is near until the freeze gets them and my saeson..Thanks, JK.....

8/2/2004 3:37:24 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

http://www.pestproducts.com/whiteflies.htm
http://dede.essortment.com/whiteflies_rvll.htm
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/020530.htm
http://www.ghorganics.com/whiteflies.html
The last link says a seaweed spray makes the leaves undesireable....

Hope this helps
Bo

8/2/2004 6:12:04 AM

Western Pa.

I've kept them under control with Sevin. But you MUST use it every 2-3 days to get the new hatches. Also try to spray both sides of the leaves!

8/2/2004 9:14:20 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Permethrin does the job for me, and it's relatively safe.

8/2/2004 9:28:42 AM

[email protected]

M-Pede Insecticidal Soap & Oil will kill eggs & expose adults.

Any good pyrethroid will serve as a good contavct adulticide.

Merit/Admire systemic will serve to extend the impact so you're not spraying every 3 days all summer.

8/2/2004 9:32:18 AM

Wichita, KS

I have had good success with neem oil (did I spell that right?). Its "organic," and it got rid of all the white flies at our church that were sucking the life out of the plum trees and roses. I went with neem oil reluctantly, but wanted to stay away from anything remotely toxic since my church hosts a pre-school. I apply it at the dilution rate recommended on the bottle, maybe slightly less, but I do it more frequently; every few days. I got rid of white flies back in April and haven't seen them since. Aphids keep coming back, about once a month, but then I start up with the neem oil again and they disappear after about a week and a half.

8/2/2004 11:30:25 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Thanks for the replys, and info....JK

8/3/2004 2:21:46 AM