Strawberry Whitefly Control: Effective Techniques

Whitefly on strawberries is a pest that literally stretches the vital juices of this plant. Therefore, when it appears on the bushes, plantings begin to suffer: their development is slowed down, they become susceptible to diseases, and this ultimately negatively affects the taste and quantity characteristics of the crop. Therefore, in order to get large and sweet berries, you need to start the fight against whiteflies as early as possible.

Pest Information

Whiteflies are the name of a large family of insects, which includes over 1,500 species. Several dozen of them are widespread in the territory of the former USSR and pose a threat to garden and garden plantings. This family got its name because of the characteristic of its representatives wax coating on the wings.

These are small insects: the length of adults is from 1.5 to 5 mm. They feed on plant juices, and at the same time draw them in large volumes exceeding the required amount for nutrition.

If measures are not taken in time, then the parasitic activity of whiteflies will ultimately lead to the death of the stands.

The main enemy of strawberries is the Strawberry Whitefly (Aleurodes fragariae Walk). These insects lay yellow eggs for the winter in the stems of berry crops and herbaceous plants located nearby.

What is the danger to strawberries?

Due to the abundant nutrition of plant juices in large quantities, not all of their volume is absorbed in the organism of whiteflies. Therefore, the insect secretes a whitish liquid, similar to dew, which is located on the leaves. This substance is a favorable habitat for the soot fungus.

Therefore, the gardener, whose strawberry was attacked by a whitefly, expects additional problems. After all, the fungus disrupts the flow of air to the leaf plates of the plant and interferes with the vital course of photosynthesis. The result will be the formation of a sticky crust on plants, blackening and the death of the green part. Whitefly is also a carrier of diseases.

Despite its small size, this parasite causes significant damage to strawberry plantings. But, knowing what the whitefly looks like on strawberries and how to deal with it, you can save the plants and the future crop. The main thing is to take the necessary measures in time.

How to recognize a pest?

Signs that strawberry planting has been chosen by whiteflies:

1. Although the whitefly is a small midge, it can be seen visually. Therefore, strawberries should be inspected regularly, using a magnifying loupe or glasses if necessary. But usually it’s enough to shake the bush with your hand to see insects scattering in all directions. They often hide in its very depths.
2. On the back of strawberry leaves, the whitefly lays microscopic eggs no larger than 0.3 cm in size. They can be transparent with a greenish tint, white or yellow. Over time, the eggs turn into larvae.It’s not easy to see them without a magnifying glass.
3. A white coating appears on the strawberry leaves, which is an insect discharge.
4. The plant slowed its growth, turned yellow and began to fade.

If you find a whitefly or traces of its life, you must immediately proceed to radical methods of solving the problem. If you delay the fight against the parasite, it will cause serious harm and destroy the strawberry plantation in the garden.

Ways to fight

How to get rid of whiteflies on strawberries? There are three effective ways:

• chemical;
• biological;
• using folk remedies.

The fight against the parasite is complicated by its rapid reproduction rate. The whitefly does not live long - about a month, but during this time it manages to lay more than 130 eggs. Larvae will appear after 7 days, and adult individuals that continue to breed in 3-4 weeks.

But, if strawberries grow in open ground, then the whitefly lays eggs only in the spring months. In the greenhouse, this happens almost all year round, during which up to 15 generations of the pest manage to appear. Another difficulty is associated with the resistance of the larvae to chemicals, therefore, it is possible to act only on adults.

Whitefly Chemicals: Top 5

Most chemicals suitable for controlling whiteflies kill them when they enter the digestive system (intestinal effect). The most effective and popular remedies for use on strawberries include:

1. Actara is a universal insecticide that kills more than 100 species of plant pests. Sell ​​in bags.
2. “Actellik” - ampoules that can be used after buds appear on strawberries. Do not use more than 4 times per season. An effective remedy, the result of the application of which is noticeable after 3 days.
   
3. "Confidor" from the German company Bayer.
4. "PEGASUS";
5. "Rovikurt" is a liquid with an oil structure, effective when whiteflies appear on a large scale.

All these drugs should be used strictly in accordance with the instructions for use.

Flea remedies can also help: shampoos and sprays with the active substance fipronil. They are sold in veterinary pharmacies. A solution of shampoo in the water is treated with leaves, and the spray is sprayed onto the ground around the bushes or mulch. Anti-flea drugs are used as adjuvants.

Processing Rules

Given that pesticides destroy only adults and practically do not affect eggs, it is necessary to carry out multiple treatments as volatile whiteflies appear. In addition, intestinal isecticides have an effect only when parasites are fed, and once will not be enough, because insects feed at different times. Four treatments with a break of 3, 5 and 7 days are enough.

Moreover, with each procedure, the concentration of chemicals should be lowered so as not to harm the plants and not make its future fruits harmful to human health.

The use of insecticides designed to combat whiteflies can be combined with the use of drugs of a different orientation: growth stimulants and increase plant immunity, which improves their resistance to stress. For example, "Bud."

Other important rules for treating strawberries with whitefly insecticide:

1. It is necessary to strictly observe the dosage and precautions indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions for the drug.
2. Spraying is recommended to be carried out in calm weather without precipitation.
3. Over time, whiteflies develop immunity to a specific active substance, so pesticides should be changed.
4. The optimal time is morning and evening hours, because a combination of insecticide and bright sunlight can cause burns on the leaves.
5. Pesticides cannot be used too often and in large quantities - toxic substances accumulate in the soil, and it will be very difficult to restore the quality of the soil.

If you consider these recommendations, then the fight against whiteflies with insecticides will be successful and safe.

Biological method

An alternative to the use of chemicals will be the use of biological agents. One of them is the deliberate placement of other parasites on beds with strawberries, for example, enkarsia or macrophus bugs. Feeding on whitefly larvae, they are harmless to plantations. You can buy such insects in a biological laboratory or large gardening farms. When the parasites fulfill their mission, they leave the strawberries.

The biological means of getting rid of whiteflies include the insecticide "Verticillin Zh", which includes spores of the fungus. It has the ability to penetrate into the body of whiteflies and affect its organs, leading to death.

Folk Tricks

Not all gardeners are ready to use chemicals on their site, fearing for safety for the soil and future crops. If strawberries are grown in a greenhouse, toxic agents are undesirable because they will accumulate in large quantities in the soil. In such cases, some folk recipes will help:

1. Adults and larvae can be removed mechanically by spilling the stems and leaves from all sides with a stream of water. But it is likely that the whitefly will return again.
2. The creation of sticky traps destroys adult parasites. You can spread small plywood with castor oil, petroleum jelly or honey with a few drops of rosin, and put the bait near the plantings. Whiteflies are very fond of yellow shades, and, sitting on a trap, tightly stick.
3. The tincture of garlic, exuding a pungent odor, will scare off the parasites. 150 g chopped cloves pour 1 liter of water and insist for at least 5 days under a tightly closed lid.
4. Strawberry leaves and stalks are treated with a thick solution of laundry soap. This is a safe method for both strawberries and humans.

Treatment with folk remedies, like chemicals, must be carried out several times.

So that the whitefly does not have time to cause irreparable harm to strawberries, the timely use of funds to combat it will save the crop. You need to take action immediately after detecting the pest. Otherwise, it will damage the planting, begin to actively multiply and spread throughout the site.