What does a whitefly look like on cabbage and how to get rid of it?

Whitefly is a pest that loves cultivated plants very much. How to protect cabbage planting from it, and by what means you can fight it, will be discussed in the article.

Whitefly is a big lover of cabbage, however, in addition to cabbage, this insect also loves raspberries, plums, pears, watermelons and other cultivated plants. It looks like a small moth up to 1.2 millimeters in size, while the largest representatives of this species are females. The bodies of adult whiteflies have a light shade with admixtures of yellow, they have white wings, and there are antennae on the head.

It reproduces actively. Each female can lay more than 100 eggs for the entire period. This insect is very fond of high temperatures and moisture, and therefore the greenhouse is considered the most favorable place for its active reproduction.

The eggs of this pest can be found under the leaf, on the underside of it. It is there that she lives most often. The larvae develop very quickly, after which they literally immediately begin to attack the plants in order to suck nutrients out of them. Such an insect lives for about 35 days.

Unlike many other pests, the whitefly betrays itself easily. To find it, you just need to touch the cabbage leaves, after which you will see a whole swarm of white dots literally in a second. If you look under the leaves of a plant, then, with a high probability, you will find many capsules there - these are larvae that are just passing the initial stage of their development.

Besides, the appearance of the pest is also evidenced by the product of its vital activity, which appears on the cabbage in the form of a white bloom. A little later, dark spots begin to appear on the plant - this indicates the appearance and development of a fungus.

An adult whitefly is capable of completely destroying a plant. Not only does the butterfly eat it, it can also infect it with various diseases, including chlorosis, leaf deformation and others. The butterfly carries all these diseases on its paws.

Having become infected, the plant can weaken, its growth will noticeably deteriorate, and as a result, if you do not take action, it will die.

In addition, the butterfly actively feeds on plant juices, thus obtaining the necessary nutrients for itself. Moreover, it feeds on both greenhouse plantings and those that grow in the ground.

The larvae of this insect also pose a great danger to the plant and its development, due to their gluttony.

If you poison pests with chemicals, then the result can be seen quickly. It is enough just to spray the plants to destroy at least some of the parasites. However, it should be borne in mind that treatment with such drugs can scare away and remove not only pests, but also beneficial insects, and if used improperly, it can also harm the person himself.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these funds is high. Summer residents especially allocate funds such as "Aktara", "Confidor", "Akarin", "Agravertin", "Iskra", "Aktellik" and others.

Most likely, you will have to spray the plants with these preparations more than once in order to surely save them from the pest. When using them, we strongly recommend that you follow the safety rules. Treat only with glasses, gloves, mask and gown, and after completion, wash your hands thoroughly.

It is not necessary to use chemicals with a high level of toxicity. Homemade folk remedies can also be used against the pest.

To make this solution, you will need a tablespoon of unconcentrated ammonia and 9 liters of water. All this must be thoroughly mixed, after which the solution is ready for use. Its strong smell will surely scare away pests. Please note that you need to prepare the solution in a respirator, and it is recommended to use it only in outdoor conditions, that is, in a greenhouse and in a garden; it is not recommended to use it indoors.

The solution is much like a solution with ammonia. It also has a noticeable scent that will get rid of the butterflies and save the plant. You only need 50 milliliters of ammonia and 10 liters of liquid. For greater effectiveness, nicotinic acid can be added at the rate of 1 tablet per liter of solution.

This remedy is considered the most effective of all. It fights the cabbage pest due to its sharp aroma and some features, due to which the protective layer on the butterfly's body is damaged.

For the solution, you will need 0.5-1.5 liters of turpentine. Its amount directly depends on your situation. If the plants have a large amount of whitefly, then it is recommended to take the maximum amount of this agent, if you want to carry out prevention, then the minimum will be enough. The middle, i.e. 1 liter, is best for plants with thin foliage.

Turpentine must be diluted with 10 liters of water, after which 50-150 grams of grated soap must be added to the liquid, depending on the amount of turpentine. After that, 1.5 tablespoons of a 25% ammonia solution are added. The solution is ready to use.

Instead of turpentine, camphor oil can be used, and it is also permissible to add mint or eucalyptus solution, coniferous extract. The solution can either be sprayed or watered over the planting. It is recommended to process every 10 days.

Many pests hate vinegar, and therefore it will definitely work in the fight against them. Many gardeners resort to using apple cider vinegar as it is not harmful to planting. The solution is made as follows: a teaspoon of vinegar is diluted with a liter of water. To increase the effect of the product, you need to add 30 grams of soap.

It is recommended to treat plants with this agent several times with an interval of 5 days.

Another method with which you can surely get rid of pests. For preparation, you need 20-50 milliliters of "Benzyl benzoate". Its amount depends directly on your situation, the worse, the more. The tool will need to be poured with a liter of cold water, after which you can immediately start processing the plants.

Despite the fact that this substance does not have a negative effect on plants, it is still not recommended to use it on fruiting crops.

Such a solution is made as follows: 160 grams of garlic must be grated and diluted with a liter of water, then mix well and let it brew for about 5 days. After that, the solution must be diluted again with water to a concentration of 5%.

Another effective method of fighting whitefly is fumigators. They poison mosquitoes indoors, but they can also be used in greenhouse conditions. To do this, you need to place several such devices throughout the greenhouse, while it is not recommended for people and animals to be there after that, otherwise there is a risk of harm to your health.

It is recommended to carry out a similar procedure several times every week, since fumigators do not affect the eggs, and you need to wait for them to hatch.

Besides, you can also resort to the use of phytoprotective nets. They will not help you get rid of pests, but they will definitely help prevent their appearance and will be able to protect plants from them. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly and completely non-toxic, unlike chemicals.

For the full protection of your plantings, it is not recommended to neglect preventive measures.

Initially, it is necessary to provide the plants with full care. Examine their leaves to prevent insect breeding and disease early on. Remove weeds and fertilize the plant regularly to strengthen it and make it more resistant to the attacks of various pests.

When planting cabbage, try to maintain a distance between plantings. This must be done in order to provide the plants with good air ventilation and controllability of the humidity level.

You should not leave the remnants of the crop after harvesting it in the autumn. Larvae can remain on them, which is subsequently fraught with the appearance of new pests in large numbers.

For prevention, you can also plant plants with a strong aroma near the cabbage. For example, sage, mint, dill, or garlic.

Taking care of cultivated plants is troublesome and costly in terms of time and effort. However, with all these measures, your efforts will pay off with a good and rich harvest.