Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
carbos5

What Insect Is This?

carbos
12 years ago

I'm seeing many of the these on the undersides of my mango tree. Pretty designs, but I'm sure whatever it is has evil intentions. Can someone identify what this is and what to do about it? It isn't the greatest picture, but if you click on it and enlarge it,, I think you'll be able to see what I have.

Thank you.

{{gwi:1334407}}

Comments (10)

  • tropicalgrower89
    12 years ago

    White fly. I have the same problem.

  • sleep
    12 years ago

    I have it too. Very, very annoying. I can even see them flying around in the mornings. My neighbors have a Gigantic ficus hedge that is the source I believe, and I don't see the source changing anytime.

    It does seem to be affecting my young trees, not sure what to do at this point ..

  • tropicalgrower89
    12 years ago

    I bought a set of 15 yellow sticky white fly/aphid traps from amazon.com . They caught a bunch of them and other bugs, but there are still plenty flying around. I have shrubs all around my back yard. A small section of them are ficus. Next month, I'm getting rid of all of my shrubs where they seem to call "home" and spread towards my fruit trees.

  • carbos
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Oops. I moved the file and so the link above is broken. Here it is:

  • wizzard419
    12 years ago

    If it is whitefly the best thing you can do is soak the trees in an oil spray. I've used All Seasons (it goes on the end of the hose) you spray it once (possibly twice if they return the next week) and they are gone. I applied mine once and they have not returned.

    I'm not 100% sure on mango leaves though, you will probably want to ask your local expert about the options you have.

  • bsbullie
    12 years ago

    As I have said before, you must control/stop the source of the whitefly. Treating your mango trees is all well and good but if the whitefly source is still around, you have not eliminated the risk.

    Rob

  • wizzard419
    12 years ago

    That is true, I've had trees in the ground for 20 years without a whitefly, ever. Then, for the last two years, the summers got really cool and mild, which made the perfect habitat for the whitefly.

    If I recall, according to the pest control lady, if they aren't in full sun and it's damp/cool they may show up. So if you can move your trees somewhere warmer/brighter that would work too.

  • carbos
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Find the source and eliminate it. Of course! Alas, where do these guys like to hang out?

  • wizzard419
    12 years ago

    They like cooler, shady, and possibly slighly damp areas.

    Destroying plants pretty much won't do anything, you need to make the plants unattractive by warming up the plants (by moving them into hotter parts of the garden) or use the spray.

    I think in general they love fruit trees (can't be certain as all my trees are fruit trees) and they have yet to show up on any bushes or shrubs here.

  • bsbullie
    12 years ago

    Three local plants that whitefly like, depending on the species of whitefly, are ficus, gumbo limbo and papaya.

    Rob

Sponsored
Dream Baths by Kitchen Kraft
Average rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars12 Reviews
Your Custom Bath Designers & Remodelers in Columbus I 10X Best Houzz