Hi Sharon, did you repost this and finally get advice how to rid your plants of the white flies? (I hope!) Your referenced article led me to feel your insect issue might have been due to the alfalfa. Had the weather changed from previous seasons to better support white flies? Some years, they (and other mild, humid weather sucking insects) are worse than others due to milder temps and greater humidity, while other colder, hotter and drier years they aren't as bad. I wondered if the conditions perhaps favored them more this year than in previous years? Thanks, Kim

White flies like to settle down for the evening on the undersides of leaves. Thats when you can spray them. A nontoxic soap oil spray should take care of them. You may have to do this several times to get them all. The eggs can take 5-10 days to hatch. I'm sure there's more toxic ways to kill them but I cant advise since I dont use systemics etc. There are also the yellow sticky traps to catch them in the daytime.

https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/whitefly-control/

Excessive use of nitrogen fertilzers can attract a lot of insects..aphids, whiteflies etc.. They like the tender new growth to suck the juices out of.

I dont know if So FL had the cool long rainy spring that No FL had but we seemed to have more bugs than usual last year.

This link may help:

https://www.almanac.com/pest/whiteflies

I dont have whiteflies but tons of nets. I am sure it is nets . I have no idea where it came from and i have not used anything like.improve my soil or add any manure. They drive me insane whenever i am outside with my dog, cleaning the pool or even watering my roses. I try to removed any debris of leaves or decay since i got ill .

They are still present. I do noticed whenever i spray water in soil more flies fly up so i think they are breeding in soil. I am so over this bugs. I read from internet if you used hair spray it stops the wings but that was fruitless...grr ! I went through a whole can, I knew dont believe what you read from internet.

I feel your frustration bec i am going bonkers here.

Jasmin, thanks for the link. I might just try safer soap, neem or horticultural oil.

Thanks Henry, your article made me realized that my dragonflies who are the keepers of my garden is not here. Now, i really miss them hopefully they will come back soon.

Plumeria Girl, it sounds as if you have fungus gnats. They are the main protein source for hummingbirds. You know when you see hummers "dance" in the air? They're often picking off the fungus gnats out of the air. You can search for methods to control them andyou can also look here for ideas.

Kim, you are so right. I just read through the article. I got to do something . I know my soil is dry for days. I think it is fungus gnats.

Jasmin, that is very interesting about dragonflies. I had them for a few years but dont know about their hibernation for winter months. So, i need to pay more attention to them. They love to fly around my pool and when they are resting it is on support sticks that i tie my roses with . I did research on them as what they eat but i try not to bother them too much as i read that they can bite too. Yikes !!

Thanks guys for information. That is very helpful to me.

You're welcome. I'd use whatever is the least toxic and hang hummingbird feeders all over.

Jin, I think Dragonflies like to land on anything that sticks up. If it sticks up out of the water they love it even more (like lotus leaves, cat tails, etc.) lol.

Adult dragonflies don't hibernate. They have a lifespan of about 6 mos. The adults usually die in winter or right before.

The larval dragonflies can live underwater for a long time. If winter is harsh and they need to, they can temporarily halt their development, to time it for spring and/or also to make sure several baby dragonflies all emerge from the water at the same time to ensure survival rates.

Well, i never quite pay attention to any of their lifestyle , habits knowing me, i am very skittish of anything and everything but now it perks up my inquisitive mind. Getting more involved with my garden like a child again :))

So, dragonflies on sticks drive me insane before and i now i noticed their absents. Kinda miss them which i surprise myself but i am sure when they do return than i back to my normal self, screaming, ducking then running....lol

Haha not too much in the garden scares me except of course, those Flying Palmetto bugs/Giant roaches and that big Timber Rattlesnake.