Hydro-Gardens
P.O. Box 25845
Colorado Springs, CO 80936-5845
888-693-0578
hgi@hydro-gardens.com

All living beneficials will be sent by
2 Day Air or NEXT Day Air

WHITEFLY

Greenhouse Whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum - The life cycle and number of eggs laid by the greenhouse whitefly (GHWF) varies with the temperature and the species of the host plant.

Eggplant is one of the most favorite vegetable plants of the GHWF. The GHWF will lay nearly 4 times as many eggs on an eggplant as it will on a cucumber plant. It will lay several times more eggs on a cucumber plant than on a tomato plant. The GHWF will usually avoid sweet pepper plants.

Developmental time (egg to adult) for the GHWF can take from 123 days at 54° F. to only 18 days at 86° F. GHWF eggs hatch and go through several instars (stages of larval growth) while attached to the undersides of leaves. Shortly after hatching, the GHWF larvae attaches into the leaf tissue and begins feeding on plant fluids. It remains attached until it emerges as an adult. While attached, the larvae is covered with a protective skeleton that makes it difficult to kill with insecticides. Adults can begin laying 4-10 eggs per day within 1-2 days after emergence. As the various stages of the GHWF feeds on the plant, it excretes large amounts of honeydew. A black sooty mold can grow on the honeydew that can interfere with leaf photosynthesis and transpiration.

Silverleaf Whitefly Benisia tabaci -    The life cycle and number of eggs laid by the silverleaf whitefly (SLWF) varies with the temperature and the species of the host plant.

Bemisia tabaci was reported in Florida as long ago as 1894, but only in the past few years has it become a major pest in the United States. It is a serious pest of many economically important field and greenhouse crops.  Often the worst damage results from honeydew (a sweet secretion) that both nymphs and adults drop onto the upper surfaces of leaves. Honeydew supports the growth of sooty mold that damages plants by screening out sunlight.   In some areas, SLWF causes great indirect damage by transmitting plant virus. Sometimes SLWF may become so abundant that direct feeding damage kills the crops even before sooty mold and viruses can develop. SLWF is known to attack more than 500 species of plants, many of them economically important.  The list includes cabbage, cotton, melons, poinsettia, squash, tomato, and many other ornamental and vegetable crops. Nationwide, dollar losses have exceeded $200 million annually. Entomologists believe that the recent economic losses are being caused by a new strain of SLWF (biotype B), or perhaps even a new species -Bemisia argentifolii. Since this new whitefly is much more resistant to insecticides than the old SLWF, biological control is a desirable alternative. all information on SLWF is from the USDA in Mission TX.

For a great site to help you identify your whitefly
CLICK HERE
This is a site from the USDA on Whitefly identification.

We also recommend this handy 30X pocket microscope to aid in identification of these and other insects. Part # 5E217 priced at just $9.95. click here to see a more information on this item.

Ef Encarsia formosa -
Encarsia formosa is a tiny, parasitic wasp that will lay
50 - 100 eggs into Greenhouse Whitefly larvae.

Ef works best if introduced shortly after transplanting at the rate of 1-2 per ft². Usually two introductions - two weeks apart - should establish overlapping generations of Ef. in your crop. Additional applications may be necessary if GHWF infestations flare up. Larger operations may also elect to introduce 1 per 10ft² every week as a standing order. Yellow sticky traps should be used with Ef to trap adult GHWF to reduce the pest population.

     Application Rate = 1-2 Per Sq/Ft every two weeks

ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON (MT. TIME)
THURSDAY TO SHIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK

All living beneficials will be sent by
2 Day Air or NEXT Day Air

Estimated Shipping Rates For Orders Shipped
From Hydro-Gardens:

Eretmocerus eremicus -
Recommended in field vegetable and ornamental crops where Bemisia tabaci (sweetpotato whitefly) or B. argentifolii (silverleaf whitefly) are present. E. eremicus will be particularly useful at high temperatures.

While E. eremicus will attack and parasitize both Bemisia and Trialeurodes, it is recommended that Encarsia formosa remains the principal means of controlling Trialeurodes.

     Application Rate = 1 per 2-4 Sq/Ft every two weeks

ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON (MT. TIME)
THURSDAY TO SHIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK

All living beneficials will be sent by
2 Day Air or NEXT Day Air

Estimated Shipping Rates For Orders Shipped
From Hydro-Gardens:

DP Delphastus pusillus

  Is a small black 'ladybug' from Australia that will consume about 150 whitefly eggs per day. They are about 1/8" diameter and will disappear into the plant canopy very quickly. They are recommended for moderate to heavy infestations (10 - 15 whitefly larvae per leaf). This small beetle is used to provide control of the greenhouse, sweet potato and silverleaf whitefly.

            Application Rate = 1 Per 20-40 Sq/Ft every two weeks

ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON (MT. TIME)
THURSDAY TO SHIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK

Delphastus pusillus will be sent by
NEXT Day Air Only direct from the Insectary

Many insects are attracted to the color yellow. These insects can be captured by hanging cards around your plants. Captured adults will not lay any more eggs on your plants. Yellow Stiky traps provide a means of controlling the flying stages of most pest insects.

"Fly-Barr" Insect Barrier - Click Here for more information.

When your exhaust fans are running, your intake vents are like a vacuum cleaner catching everything flying near the vents. Covering these intake vents with INSECT BARRIER will greatly reduce the introduction of unwanted pests into your greenhouse. Clean INSECT BARRIER reduces your airflow less than 5%.