If they're on veggies, I wouldn't use a systemic.

jean,

I would like to avoid it but if the Safer Soap/Neem Oil doesn't work I will. I can deal with them now as they are outside, but if they get in my GH this fall, they can wreak havoc in a week or two.

But... I checked the plants today and while I'm sure there are some left, no swarms. I'll hit them again Wednesday. Using the hose and Ortho sprayer it's relatively easy to cover 900 sq. ft. going up and down each row, spraying from top to bottom in about 20 minutes.

Mike

If the active ingredient is pyrethrin, the white flies will just laugh at you. They've graduated past pyrethrins many moons ago. And if it's the same label as I am looking at, who implied it was a systemic?

Caliope,

That's why I post here - so people who know more than me can offer their advice.

I know one thing: I need to eradicate them or at least get their numbers way down - this is not open to debate. I would prefer staying as organic as possible but this is not a line I will not cross. My limit is not using any chemicals that may be harmful for anyone who eats the fruits.

The active ingredient in Bug B Gon is Esfenvalerate. If that fails, I have some DDT left!

Mike

That's a new age pyrethroid. It is usually used along with a pesticide of another chemical class and is more effective that way for whitefly. I was just trying to save you some $$$. I moved along the path of all the new pyrethroids as they came down the line and never found them all that effective against whitefly. You didn't ask any questions about whether it was systemic. You just 'figured' it was. It has to be reapplied according to the information I have, so my guess is it isn't.

In fact you didn't ask any questions at all. You merely stated what you were going to do. My answer was about as legitimate as your question.

You don't give us any clue as to your geographical area or what plants you are growing. That would help with an answer because we don't know how close to harvest you are and what your odds are for phytotoxicity from the weather. It may be too late to cut your losses this year, but next year you might want to incorporate scouting your patch to nip the situation in the bud when it's more manageable than waiting until you have clouds of those little &^%$*s to deal with. I had a year of WF infestation on my garden veggies, so I know how frustrating it is and hope you get a handle on it. I'm not suggesting organic or debating you. It's your gut, your pesticides and your choice. I used summer weight oil on my WF's and it worked, but that's not always an option. It does however kill every one of them it makes contact with, their eggs, and their crawlers. The down side is it can also take the plant with it. I just figured I didn't have much to lose at that point.

Mike,

I am doing battle with Whiteflies, Psyllids, and Spider Mites all at the same time. I am using a Neem / Canola derived product called Take Down Garden Spray:

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Just started the treatment cycle 2 weeks ago, but preliminary results look promising. Below is a link to the Ready to Use bottle. I bought the Concentrate which is obviously more economical.

Raybo

Here is a link that might be useful: Take Down Garden Spray

Raybo,

Thanks! I'll check it out when I get back today.

Calliope, I'm in Cincinnati so I have at least six more weeks of summer. They are on just about everything I have growing - broccoli, peanuts, strawberries, cucumbers, squash, peppers, tomatillo, tomatoes and carrots. I have about 25 tomatoes I've just started and will move to the GH later - they are the only ones I would consider using any sprays on where I cannot harvest the food the next day.

Mike

Sticky yellow traps are an organic response to white flies. You can use tanglefoot and apply it to yellow card board. The best thing for spider mite is a strong stream of water - it gives them pneumonia

LOL! That's a good one! I'll remember that user name.

Sticky traps are a good indicator you have whiteflies, but not a good control especially in Mikes situation. He really needs a knock-down or systemic at this point before he infests his greenhouse. I know of one but I do not endorse its use for food crops, even though the labels are now expanding into that area.

I'm trying to weather this without resorting to extremes. So far daily or every other day applications of Neem/Safer Soap applied with a garden hose. The plants, except the newly transplanted ones can handle a slight infestation for the next six weeks and then the colder weather should take care of the rest.

In my GH, I can use sticky traps, lady bugs and parasitic wasps as well as Neem/Safer Soap.

Next year may be a different story. Almost everyplace in this part of the city seems to have an infestation and if they return next spring, I'll have to find the best systemic approach.

Mike

Raybo:

I see nothing on the label that indicates "Take Down" has any Neem oil in it. I don't think you are using what you state you are.

Tom

Need to add - talked with several people this week in different areas and they all say they have never, ever, seen a WF infestation like this in the past. Maybe it is an aberration and next year they will not be a consideration. But I realize I need to be prepared - even if I kill every little pest in my garden this year, if one or two survive the winter next door, I will have major problem.

I will have no choice except to use a systemic approach.

Mike

wordwiz, I had that problem in early spring after I had taken plants out and brought them in due to impending frost.

We took every plant outside and my husband sprayed Neem oil around the entire yard and every growing thing in it. he did that several times and it seemed to have worked because I haven't seen them since.

I worried about my houseplants because I first noticed that "cloud" inside the house. I put the yellow sticky things in the plant pots but never found a single white fly on them.

Be persistent with the Neem - it does work. Just be sure to spray everything around your entire yard. It's a big job but worth it.

gardenvt,

Thanks for the encouragement but I think you underestimate how bad this infestation is. I could spray all 3,000 sf of my property and kill a billion gazillion flies. But the neighbors have them in their yard - on their trees, grass, plants.

I'll be honest - I don't care about eradicating them this season, just keeping them manageable. If they show up next year - different story. An all-out war that I will win!

Mike

Actually neem also has systemic effects but in this case it makes no difference to eating since neem is not poisonous. It has been used throughout Asia as an internal medicine for thousands of years with no ill effects.

I've been dealing with whiteflies in the garden as well. I've simply been making a very diluted soap spray using warm water and dish soap (I use Melaleuca brand). I sprayed the initial time after my discovery, and then re-apply after every period of rain. It seems to be keeping them away. My focus has been primarily on the tomato plants, but they really do get into everything, don't they? I even sprayed a weed patch the other day because I was too lazy to pull them out.

I'm curious if there really is a way to prevent a reinfestation next year? Especially in a situation where the neighbors may not be proactive themselves- and honestly could care less.

This was our first year in this home, and what a learning experience the garden has been... whiteflies, voles, squirrels, rabbits (oh, don't get me started on rabbits!), and who knows what else. Maybe if I can get the whiteflies under control, I can feel a sense of accomplishment.

I think spraying the weed patch may have been a mistake. You probably destroyed a lot of predators that could have helped you get the whitefly under control. I always set aside a sanctuary area near my garden that is disturbed as little as possible where I just let nature take its course. I think that's one reason why pests in my garden seldom get out of control.

It has been used throughout Asia as an internal medicine for thousands of years with no ill effects.

The neem used for internal and external medicine is made from the leaves and bark. The insecticide should be made from the seeds.