[CH] White Fly Control
Cross Country Nurseries (janie@chileplants.com)
Fri, 08 Oct 1999 14:39:05 -0400
>I have a big problem with White Flies.
I have had much success using Encarsia formosa, a Whitefly parasite. These
are tiny wasps that attack only whiteflies, by either eating the scales or
laying eggs in the scales. The parasites are shipped inside whitefly scales
that are attached to cards, which you hang among the infected plants.
At first whitefly sign, I use 1 per 3 square feet, every week for 3-4
weeks. For greater numbers of whitefly use 1 per square foot. For best
results you need to make consecutive weekly releases to get the parasite
established. The insects are not that expensive, it's the NextDay shipping
that gets you, so I buy double the # I need, and put down half, then
refrigerate the rest for the next week. This is not a cheap quick-fix
solution, and probably more $$ suited to larger growers vs backyard
growers, but once you have Encarsia established (especially in warm and
sunny Phoenix), they will continue to reproduce and keep your plants
Whitefly free. I do preventative/first sign releases every year and am very
satisfied with the results, so much so that I now use beneficial insects
almost exclusively for all pest control of my chiles.
IPM Labs in Locke, NY (#315-497-2063) sells 1000 for $14, 2000 for $20,
3000 for 21.99, 10,000 for 65.00, plus $16 shipping. (Unfortunately no
affiliation...)
Good luck, janie
* Cross Country Nurseries
* Box 170, 199 Kingwood-Locktown Road
* Rosemont, New Jersey 08556-0170
http://www.chileplants.com
* growers of perennials & chile peppers