Whiteflies exhibit overlapping generations; the following control strategies are recommended!

Release Date:

2020-12-23

The whitefly is a pest that particularly loves to feed on vegetables. So how can you control it? Here are six effective methods for managing whiteflies. Below, we recommend the following approaches.

1. Eradicate the source of pests

The seedling nursery should be separated from the production greenhouses. Prior to transplanting or at the time of planting, clear away residual plant debris and weeds from the site, and employ fumigation or spraying to eliminate any remaining adult insects.
Install nylon mesh screens on greenhouse vents to control external pest sources.

2. Intercropping among rotations

Replacing the open-field vegetables around the greenhouse with crops such as garland chrysanthemum, spinach, celery, and garlic sprouts—vegetables that whiteflies dislike and can tolerate low temperatures—can help prevent these pests from flying into the greenhouse and causing damage. Alternatively, intercropping these vegetables with your main crops can also help curb the spread of whiteflies.

3. Biological Control

Artificial release of natural enemies of whiteflies, such as the Encarsia formosa (3–5 adult or pupal individuals per plant, released every 10 days for a total of four releases) and green lacewings (one lacewing can consume 170 whitefly nymphs).

4. Apply insecticide via soil injection to control pests.

When transplanting, selecting certain soil‑applied formulations—such as tablet pesticides with slow‑release components or biocontrol agents like Shi Hui—can effectively repel pests.

5. Yellow sticky traps for adult insect control

Adult whiteflies exhibit positive phototaxis toward yellow; yellow sticky traps should be hung at the very onset of an infestation. These traps can be purchased for less than 1 yuan each, or you can make your own: use yellow cardboard or paint a piece of stiff paper yellow, enclose it in a clear plastic bag, and coat the inside with a sticky oil—prepared by mixing No. 10 machine oil with a bit of grease until well blended. Replace the oiled plastic bag every 10 days or so, then reapply the procedure with a fresh bag.
Hang yellow sticky traps at the same height as or slightly above the plants, using approximately 40 to 50 traps per mu, increasing the number as needed based on the severity of pest infestation.

Yellow sticky traps can both lure and kill adult insects and serve as monitoring tools for pest population dynamics; they can also be used to trap and control aphids, flea beetles, diamondback moths, and other pests.

6. Chemical Control

✊Pest‑control mindset: At present, whiteflies in different regions exhibit varying levels of resistance to different pesticides. Therefore, pesticide use should be approached with caution, and it is important to rotate among products of different chemical classes and modes of action over short intervals—typically after 2–3 applications.

✊Pesticide application tips: In the early stages of disease, combine yellow sticky traps with spraying for control; applying pesticides in the morning before the dew has dried yields better results. Start by treating the perimeter of the field first, then move on to the center.

The recommended formulations are as follows:

Single dose : 240 g/L spirotetramat suspension concentrate, diluted 4,000–5,000 times; 22% flonicamid suspension concentrate, diluted 1,000–1,500 times; 25% thiamethoxam water-dispersible granules, diluted 2,000–3,000 times; 50% clothianidin water-dispersible granules, diluted 2,000–3,000 times; 25% buprofezin wettable powder, diluted 1,000–2,000 times; 40% acetamiprid water-dispersible granules, diluted 3,000–4,000 times; 70% imidacloprid water-dispersible granules, diluted 7,000 times.

Compound agent : 22% spirotetramat·thiamethoxam; 10% pyriproxyfen EC diluted 1,000–2,000 times; 5% chlorpyrifos·acetamiprid WP diluted 2,000–3,000 times.

Note: Whiteflies exhibit overlapping generations, so continuous control is necessary; apply insecticide every 7 days, depending on the severity of the infestation.

Source: Agricultural Inputs Herald – Pesticides

Tags:

China’s Pesticide Exports and Production of Technical-Grade Active Ingredients, January–November 2020

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in coordination with the General Administration of Customs, is formulating measures to optimize import and export management services for pesticides, which are slated for release.

More information

The National Agricultural Technology Center has issued guidelines on “one spray, three protections” for wheat to address the heightened risk of recurrent outbreaks of Fusarium head blight, stripe rust, and aphids.

2026-04-10

The petrochemical and chemical industries comprise more than 27,000 large-scale production enterprises—efforts to upgrade and retrofit aging facilities are being further intensified.

2026-04-06

In 2026, corn borer, cotton bollworm, and ear rot—among other corn pests and diseases—are expected to occur at a relatively severe level. The National Agricultural Technology Center has issued a control plan!

2026-04-02

Address: