chard crop farmers and home gardeners. The whitefly sucks large quanti-
ties of sap from the plant and secretes the sugars as honeydew. This
makes the leaves sticky and susceptible to fungal growth and rot. In a ser-
Whitefly
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Lesson Nine |
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Biological Pest Control 9-2 |
Garden Pests and Their Biological Controls
Pest:
Whitefly:
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Whitefly are an extreme problem for greenhouse growers, field and or- chard crop farmers and home gardeners. The whitefly sucks large quanti- ties of sap from the plant and secretes the sugars as honeydew. This makes the leaves sticky and susceptible to fungal growth and rot. In a ser- |
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ious infestation, the fungus and rot associated with the honeydew
can kill an entire crop in a matter of weeks. In addition, whitefly can pose a great threat to plant health because they are able to transmit many plant viruses. A whitefly looks like a small white moth, 1/8" in length. They rest on plant leaves and will quickly fly away when disturbed. |
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Whitefly eggs on the |
Whitefly lie their eggs on the under side of a leaf. Shiny, sticky leaves are signs of whitefly presence. |
| Biological Control:
Encarcia Formosa. This tiny parasitic wasp lays its eggs in the larvae of |
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