Are you seeing little white bugs flying around your plants?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Whiteflies are one of the most common houseplant pests. But don’t fret, we’re here to help!
In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to identify a whitefly infestation and how to get rid of these pesky bugs for good!
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What are whiteflies?
Whiteflies are tiny, winged insects that are related to aphids and mealybugs, not flies as the name implies. They can be found in groups on the undersides of the leaves of their host plants.
Whiteflies feast on plant sap and leave a sticky residue, called honeydew on the leaves.
Whitefly populations can grow quickly and will become difficult to control in very little time.
What do whiteflies look like?
Adult whiteflies are very small, measuring as small as 1/12th of an inch long. They have yellow bodies or white bodies with white wings.
They can appear slightly triangular in shape when viewed from above and are often found in groups on the underside of leaves.
Whitefly eggs are usually laid on the underside of leaves and can be difficult to see with the naked eye. They are oval-shaped and yellow, brown, or black in color.
Larvae, or nymphs, start out as small as eggs and go through four stages of growth. They are flat, scale-like, and wingless.
As they mature, they develop a waxy coating that makes them look like small adults. Nymphs can be white, yellow, light green, or almost transparent in color.
Where are whiteflies found?
Whiteflies are found all over the world and are a common pest of many different types of plants.
In the United States, they’re most commonly found in southern states as they prefer warmer weather.
Unfortunately living in a cooler climate doesn’t mean you won’t see whiteflies on your plants. In cooler climates, whiteflies are primarily indoor plant pests.
Symptoms of whiteflies on plants
If you have whiteflies on your plants, you’ll notice the following symptoms:
- Whiteflies clustered on the underside of leaves
- Sticky residue (honeydew) on leaves
- Leaves turning yellow or brown
- Leaves wilting or dropping off
- Decreased plant growth
Whitefly damage to indoor plants
Whiteflies can cause serious damage to houseplants and outdoor plants alike. They suck the sap from leaves, weakening the plant and causing it to yellow or wilt.
A heavy infestation can even kill a plant. In addition, whiteflies excrete a sticky substance called honeydew which can attract other pests, like ants, and can cause black sooty mold to grow on the leaves.
How do you get whiteflies on houseplants?
In most areas whiteflies are often brought into the home on new plants or on cuttings from infested plants.
Once they’re in your home, they can spread quickly from plant to plant.
How to get rid of whiteflies
If you have whiteflies on your plants, there are a few different methods you can use to get rid of them.
Quarantine infested plants
If you have whiteflies on one or a few of your plants, the best thing you can do is to quarantine the infested plants away from your other houseplants.
This will help prevent the whiteflies from spreading to your other plants.
Remove and destroy affected leaves
One of the easiest ways to get rid of whiteflies is to simply remove and destroy the affected leaves.
This won’t get rid of all the whiteflies, but it will help reduce the population and give your plant a chance to recover.
Vacuum them up
Another easy way to get rid of whiteflies is to vacuum them up.
You can use a handheld vacuum cleaner or an upright vacuum with the hose attachment. Just be sure to empty the vacuum bag or canister outside so you don’t reintroduce the whiteflies back into your home.
Also, be careful as you are vacuuming your plant leaves so you don’t accidentally cause damage to the plant.
Rinse them off
You can rinse them off with water. Take the plant to the sink or shower and spray the whole plant with water, making sure to get the undersides of the leaves.
This should get many of the adults and some of the younger stages off the leaves giving your plant a break from being pest food.
Use yellow sticky traps
You can buy yellow sticky traps at your local garden center or online. These traps are coated with a sticky substance that will trap and kill the adult whitefly.
To use them, simply place the traps near infested plants. You can hang them from the leaves or put them on sticks placed in the pot.
Be sure to check the traps regularly and replace them as needed.
Make a whitefly trap
You can make your own whitefly trap using yellow paper and some vaseline. Just staple the yellow paper to a stick and then apply a layer of petroleum jelly to the paper. Then place near or in the plant with whiteflies.
They will be attracted to the yellow color of the paper and get stuck in the vaseline.
While this may be cheaper than buying yellow sticky traps, I prefer the ease of just purchasing the traps, peeling the paper off, and sticking them in the pot.
Use insecticidal soap
Insecticidal soap is a safe and effective way to get rid of whiteflies.
It works by suffocating the whiteflies and should be applied directly to the pests. Be sure to apply it to the undersides of the leaves where the whiteflies are feeding.
This may take a few weekly applications to get rid of all life stages of the whiteflies.
While you can use a mixture of dish soap and water, I don’t recommend it. Dish soap can break down the protective waxy coating on leaves which could harm your plant.
It won’t cause harm immediately, but repeated uses of it could eventually damage your plant.
Insecticidal soap is made to be safe for plants and won’t cause damage, so use that instead of dish soap.
Use Neem oil
Neem oil is a natural and effective way to get rid of whiteflies.
It works by disrupting the life cycle of the whiteflies and can also act as a repellent.
To use neem oil, mix it with water according to the directions on the bottle and then spray it on the affected plants. Be sure to apply it to all of the leaves of your plants, paying particular attention to the underside of the leaves where the whiteflies are feeding.
Neem oil needs to be applied every 5 to 7 days for 3 to 4 applications to fully eliminate whiteflies.
Use horticultural oils
Horticultural oil is another effective option for getting rid of whiteflies.
It works in a similar way to neem oil, by disrupting the life cycle of the whiteflies.
To use horticultural oil, mix it with water according to the directions on the bottle and then spray it on the affected plants. Be sure to apply it to the undersides of the leaves where the whiteflies are feeding.
Horticultural oil also needs to be reapplied to get rid of all of the whiteflies.
Introduce beneficial insects
Beneficial insects are natural predators of whiteflies and can be used as a biological control of whiteflies. These natural enemies will help you get rid of whitefly infestations by feasting on them.
There are a few different types of beneficial insects that will eat whiteflies, including ladybugs and green lacewings.
You can purchase these beneficial insects online or at your local garden center.
Once you have them, release them near the affected plants and they will go to work eating the whiteflies.
Beneficial insects can be a great way to get rid of whiteflies without having to use chemicals, though it isn’t one I like to use on my indoor plants.
Chemical insecticides
If you have a serious infestation of whiteflies, you may need to resort to chemical insecticides.
There are a few different types of insecticides that will kill whiteflies, but they can also be harmful to beneficial insects outdoors and potentially to pets indoors, so use them with caution.
You can find these insecticides at your local garden center or online.
How to prevent whiteflies
Now that you know how to get rid of whiteflies, you need to learn how to prevent them.
Inspect new plants
The best way to prevent whiteflies is to start with plants that are not already infested.
Be sure to inspect any new plants before bringing them into your home or garden. Look for signs of whiteflies and other pests.
If you do find whiteflies on a new plant, don’t bring it into your home or garden. Either return it to the store or throw it away.
Quarantine new plants
Even if you inspect new plants and don’t see any whiteflies, it’s still a good idea to quarantine them for a few weeks.
This will give you time to watch for any signs of whiteflies or other pests that may be in harder-to-see stages of life, like newly laid eggs.
If you do see whiteflies or any other pests, take action immediately to get rid of them and keep the plant quarantined until the infestation is gone.
Keep your plants healthy
Healthy plants are better able to handle an infestation of whiteflies, or other pests, than weak or ill plants.
By keeping your plants healthy you not only give them the best chance for survival, but you also increase the chances of noticing the symptoms of a new infestation.
Check plants regularly
Even if you start with healthy plants and quarantine new ones, it’s still important to check your plants regularly for signs of pests.
The best way to do this is to examine the undersides of the leaves where pests are most likely to be feeding. Whiteflies will leave a telltale sign of sticky honeydew on the leaves.
If you see any pests, take action immediately to get rid of them. The sooner you catch an infestation, the easier it will be to control.
Use systemic insecticides
If you are concerned about whiteflies or other pests, you can use a systemic insecticide.
This type of insecticide is absorbed by the plant and then kills pests that feed on the plant.
It’s a good idea to use a systemic insecticide as a preventative measure, rather than waiting until you have an infestation.
Conclusion
Whiteflies can be a serious problem for your indoor plants. It is important to learn how to identify and control these pests before they cause too much damage.
By following the tips in this blog post, you can get rid of whiteflies on houseplants and keep them from returning.
Thanks for reading!
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