Whiteflies really are a perennial pest that can infest both flowers and edibles in the garden. These small, flying insects can breed very fast and this will result in infestations which will stunt the growth of plants as well as spread diseases among them. As for the chemical pesticides, they appear to be a perfect way of controlling the problem, but have their consequences; they erase all the other positive insects and disturb the balance of the environment. For those gardeners, who do not like using chemicals, there is always option of ‘going green. ’ Organic remedies are just as efficient. Of these solutions, products with Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is looked at as an efficient weapon against whiteflies but non-harmful to the environment.
In this article the reader will discover what whiteflies are and how it impacts plant systems.
It is a small, mobile, sap grazing insect that parasitize a large number of crops. It is especially so with the vegetation gardens since the pests are known to attack important crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and beans. Whiteflies can be easily found on the lower surface of leaves as they deposit their eggs and feeds on the plant phloem. This feeding weakens the plant, and leads to chlorosis, stunted growth and die back, and at worst, death of the plant. Besides, whiteflies release a sugary substance called honey dew, which attracts the sooty mold, a fungi that have a detrimental impact to plant health since they hinder light from reaching the plants hindering their ability to perform photosynthesis.
White flies, as it is a renowned fact, can reproduce rather fast, making it a headache to deal with this pest. Whiteflies are viviparous and a female can lay hundreds of eggs hence the rate at which the population increases. If not tackled at this stage it becomes incredibly hard to manage and eventually reign in whiteflies and save the plant.
How to control whiteflies with Organic Solutions?
Although there are various chemical pesticides available in the market that can kill the whiteflies at a single blow, they have some demerits. First, many pesticides are contact or systemic insecticides which are non-selective, they pose high danger to beneficial insects like bees, ladybugs, predatory wasps etc. Such suppression results to poor garden health hence a future vulnerability to pest attacks.
Second, using chemical pesticides,I can consequent in pesticide resistance whereby pests change their body to a stage that they are no more affected by the chemical pesticides. It results to a situation where gardeners are compelled to use more potent and hazardous pesticides to have similar effectiveness.
Organic farming prefers controlling the pest magnitude in a way that enhances the garden health and productivity. Recent research indicates that through the use of natural products and techniques, organic gardeners should be in a position to manage whiteflies without affecting beneficial insects, and without polluting the environment.
Management of Whiteflies through Bacillus thuringienis or BT:
Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is a soil bacterium that has been in used for several years as a biocontrol agent for insects. It features in the creation of proteins that have fatal effects on the existence of certain insects such as whiteflies. If a whitefly consumes the BT, the proteins of the bacteria interfere with the digestive functions of the fly, forcing it to stop feeding so that it starves to death in due course. Most importantly, BT is very selective, that is it only affects the pests which it is supposed to control without affecting other organisms in the garden.
One of the most effective BT-based products for controlling whiteflies is BT Thuricide insecticide known as BT insecticide that can be purchased from Novobac at its website. This product has a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis Bt which has been specially coded for the purpose of eliminating whiteflies and other common garden insects such as caterpillars and moths. It is a well-known fact that BT Thuricide, once used on the affected plants ensures long-term control since whiteflies are destroyed in all the stages of their development.
Using BT Products in the Garden: Some General Guidelines
To get the most out of BT products like BT Thuricide, it’s important to follow a few key guidelines:
1. Apply Early and Often: One should use the products from the BT line at the first sign of whitefly infestation on crop plants. These are some practical as well as safe methods to control the whitefly problem but it is advisable to eradicate the whitefly population before it expands beyond its certain limit. Since BT acts through ingestion, reapplication of the product should be done frequently after rain or irrigation to maintain the insects under check.
2. Target the Undersides of Leaves: Whiteflies are mostly found on the lower part of the leaves where they lay their eggs as well as feed. While using the BT products ensure you cover the undersides of the leaves to get a direct point of contact with the whiteflies.
3. Combine with Other Organic Methods: It is good on BT alone, but applying it with other organic pest control methods increases the efficiency of the program. For instance, encouraging enemies such as ladybugs, lacewings and parasitic wasps to control the populations of whiteflies. Similarly, eradicating all plant debris and picking the mulch reflectivity can reduce whiteflies population in the garden.
4. Follow Product Instructions: The same applies to this pesticide, and any other pesticide and thus it is crucial to follow the Directions for Use which are outlined on the product label. Follow application rates and timing as proscribed to enhance the benefits that are expected. Drawbacks can thus be seen in cases where there was over-reliance on the BT products, not to mention the fact that the products may not be as effective in the long run as they are initially.
Conclusion
If you feel whitefly has become a problem within your garden it does not have to mean that you have to resign yourself to using strong chemicals. To manage whiteflies organically you can use bio-control like Bacillus thuringiensis; it helps to control whiteflies without harming the health of the garden. Products like BT Thuricide are an organic pest control for whiteflies that are non-toxic to other beneficial insects and other wildlife, and that do not cause pollution.
You cannot let whiteflies ruin your garden and the cripple the productivity of BT products; thus, implementing them into pest control routine as well as following organic gardening tips. For more information on Bacillus thuringiensisand its applications, visit the Novobac.