Whitefly
Whiteflies are common pests in greenhouse and field crops, feeding on plant sap and transmitting harmful viruses. Their feeding weakens plants, causes leaf yellowing and leads to honeydew deposits that reduce crop quality. Effective whitefly control is essential to maintain healthy, productive crops and prevent the spread of diseases. Biological control of whiteflies uses a combination of natural enemies and tools that target different pest stages:
Parasitic wasps are key in reducing whitefly populations by parasitizing larvae and host feeding. Predatory mites and bugs feed on eggs and larvae of whiteflies. Beneficial fungi are very effective for whitefly control. Sticky traps help monitor and capture adult whiteflies. With Koppert’s biological solutions for whitefly, professional growers can maintain effective pest management, safeguard crop health and support sustainable production.
Whiteflies are not true flies, but belong to the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Together with aphids and scale insects, they belong to the division Sternorrhyncha. The whiteflies form the family Aleyrodidae. The most common species are the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, and the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Both are widespread, polyphagous and are broadly comparable in outline.
The larvae need a lot of nutrients for growth, and thus consume a large quantity of plant sap. This contains a high proportion of sugar, and the excess is excreted as honeydew, with larger larvae expelling large quantities. This can have the following consequences:
Take a look at the video or go to our Youtube channel to see our whitefly control products in action.
