Whiteflies!!!!!!

[Tortoise Hub]

These little shites are everywhere now. I thought gnats were bad but these guys make gnats look like pets. I need some ways to kill these guys if anyone has anything successful that they have done or have heard that works. I may try to get some ladybugs so they can eat them. I dont care if they all fly away as long as they take the whiteflies with them!!! So please any suggestions send my way.

 

[SulcataJoe]

Visit this site and do a search for whiteflies: http://www.fngla.org.
We have a big problem with them in S Florida. FNGLA has lots of discussions and seminars on the subject.

 

[cljohnson]

I'll tell you what worked for me.
WORM CASTINGS.
I used to have a huge problem with whiteflies on my hibiscus. I'm assuming that's where you're having the problem.
worm castings have been found to help plants produce an enzyme that breaks down chitin. This breaks down the insects exoskeleton, anyway whiteflies don't dig it.
First you need to remove the leaves with the most damage. Then blast the plant with water to knock off as many bugs as you can.
Scratch the soil back a little at the base of the plant. Spread a one inch layer of worm castings over the root zone. Cover. With a little soil or mulch and water in.
Mine were bug free within a month.
Add 1/4 inch twice a year for maintainance.
This is the first season in over 20 years I have had no whitefly problem.
Worst case you've added a great mild totally organic fertilizer and your plants are still tortoise friendly.