₦airaland Forum

Whitefly is one of the dangerous pests during this dry season. They are small, white, flying insects that attack many crops, especially vegetables like tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, okra, and watermelon.

They feed by sucking sap from the underside of leaves, which weakens the plants, causing yellowing, leaf curling, and stunted growth. Whiteflies also produce honeydew that encourages sooty mold, reducing photosynthesis. More importantly, they transmit serious plant viruses, making them one of the most destructive sucking pests in crop production.

Whiteflies multiply very fast, especially in warm, dry weather, so early detection and proper control are very important for you to achieve good yield during dry season.

One of the ways of preventing these pests from your farm is keeping your farm weed free. Get rid of weeds and the remnants of harvested crops. 

Inspect your plants every morning and remove infested plants to avoid further spread.

When buying seedlings, make sure the seedlings are not infected. Seedlings are a major means for spreading whitefly into new plantings. Young plants are generally more susceptible to damage so early infestations need to be avoided.

Use pesticides that have Abamectin, acetamiprid, alpha-cypermethrin, bifenthrin, and deltamethrin as active ingredients.

Also, ensure good spray coverage, especially under leaves where whiteflies hide.