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Gardening & Landscaping in the Low Desert



Whiteflies in the Low Desert



DESCRIPTION:


Resembling a tiny (1/16 inch long) white moth and called a fly, it is actually neither. In fact it is most closely related to an aphid (which it looks nothing like). The immature are transparent scales fixed to the bottom of leaves where they suck plant sap.

DAMAGE:


Weaken plant and spread diseases

MANAGEMENT:

• Delay planting fall vegetables until mid-October when whitefly populations diminish.

• Native, and well adapted plants are less vulnerable to whitefly attack.

• Insecticidal Soap

Links to more information on Whiteflies

• USDA Whitefly Knowledgebase
• Silverleaf Whitefly Information Page, University of California, Kearney Agriculture Center
• University of California IPM Whitefly Fact Sheet

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