The cabbage whitefly is 1.5 mm powdery gray-white fly, often found in large numbers on the back of leaves of cabbage plants, strawberries and weeds.
Do not confuse with:
Greenhouse whitefly
Cabbage whitefly (Aleyrodes proletella). This 1.5 mm powdery grayish-white fly is often found in large numbers on the back of leaves of cabbage plants, strawberries and weeds (shepherd’s purse). They suck at the mesophyll and secrete honeydew. Sooty mold often develops on these. The fly drops when touched.
Cabbage whiteflies hibernate on evergreen crops.
Where to find
Control
Remove buds and leaves on which cabbage whiteflies and eggs can be seen.
Control with pyrethrum, Insecticidal soap, soapy water spray, rhubarb spray or nettle spray. Spray the underside of the leaves.
Prevention
Insects netting keeps cabbage whiteflies away.
At the end of autumn, remove the last cabbage plants from the land: this will prevent cabbage whiteflies from hibernate on them.
The parasitoid wasp (Encarsia formosa) is the natural enemy of the cabbage whitefly; create a border with annual flowers to attract parasitoid wasps.
Keep the vegetable plot weed-free.
