Gene McAvoy, our 5-county Veggie Agent from UF/IFAS sent out his monthly S FL Pest and Disease Hotline with at note in the email of:
Whiteflies are exploding around Southwest Florida and could have major impacts on spring crops.
What's a gardener to do?
Spray soap and water mix. Use the cheapest liquid soap that you can find. Don't use Dawn, it's too strong for plants. I experimented with 3 tablespoons to a gallon of water and did not harm my tomato plants. Spray UNDER leaves where the little buggers like to live. Should it rain (ha, ha), spray again. Spray every 7-10 days because new leaves grow and are vulnerable to insects.
Why should a gardener worry about whitefly?
Whiteflies are vectors of disease. The quick explanation of the term "vector" is that they feed/suck on a sick plant then fly to your plant and feed/suck on it too. This transfers the disease to your plant.
How do I know I have whitefly?
Brush your plant (when dry so you do not transfer disease from plant to plant). If your plant has dandruff, you have whitefly.
