The whitefly is one of the most dangerous pests tomatoes. After getting into favorable conditions insects quickly increase in number, weaken plants, become the cause of viral and fungal diseases. In greenhouses inhabited by pests, good harvests can not be.
To prevent this from happening, it is important to take timely measures to destroy whiteflies. Otherwise, insects will settle on the site for a long time, year after year destroying all the results of labor.
There are more than 1500 whitefly species in the world, 20 of which are distributed in Europe. Tomatoes are mainly affected by the greenhouse (greenhouse) whitefly.
This insect is native to South America, where it was first recorded as a pest of tomatoes in 1870. Today, the "enemy" is listed on all continents. In our climatic conditions, it mainly lives in greenhouses and indoors on ornamental and vegetable plants. Occasionally, open ground tomatoes can also be affected.
The whitefly is a very small insect, up to 3 mm in length, with a light-colored body. yellow color with white wings and grayish legs. The life span of a female is 30 days.
During her life, she lays 85-130 eggs on the underside of the leaf, placing them in 10-20 pieces in the form of a ring. The eggs are initially light yellow in color, turning black in 10 days.
After 12 days, larvae with legs and antennae emerge from them. They move around the leaf in search of a favorable place. After sticking to the leaf, the legs lose and take the form of flat light green scales 0.6-0.9 mm in size. So in a stationary state, the larva feeds on the juices of the plant.
Soon the larva passes into the nymph stage. Its surface is covered with a wax coating, which reliably protects against insecticides. By the end of development, the larva is covered with puparia, and after 13-15 days winged individuals fly out of the pupa.
In the conditions of year-round greenhouses, the whitefly gives 10-16 generations. Survives winter in the form of an adult or a puparium-covered pupa in surface layers soil or plant debris. 
Maliciousness
Larvae and adults feed on the cell sap of tomatoes, depriving plants of nutrients. The leaves turn yellow, and fall off if severely damaged.
A particular threat is posed by larvae that suck out the juices of the culture more than they need. At the same time, they secrete sugary substances, on which soot fungi (cladosporium) subsequently settle. This leads to a decrease in photosynthesis and disrupts plant respiration. With a strong defeat, the death of a tomato is possible.
In addition, whiteflies carry viruses. Many of them are incurable, become the cause of epiphytosis, the death of a significant part of the tomatoes.
Causes of appearance and conditions for development
Initially, whiteflies enter the greenhouse with infected plants. Rarely is there another option. Together with air currents, insects are able to overcome impressive distances.
Migration often occurs due to a change in the previous habitat conditions: when treating neighboring areas with chemicals or settling insects - natural enemies of the whitefly.
In the future, the growth rate of the pest colony is facilitated by: a combination of high humidity and air temperature, excessive planting density, lack of ventilation of the greenhouse and nearby compost heaps.
The ideal air temperature for whitefly breeding is +21°C…+27°C, air humidity is 60-75%. Wintering adults and pupae die at -12°C. 
Signs of a pest
Very often, the appearance of a pest in a garden with tomatoes goes unnoticed. Insects are small, nest on the lower part of the leaf, eggs and larvae are difficult to see at all.
External signs of colonization of tomatoes by whiteflies appear only with an increase in the colony.
Obvious signs:
- growth inhibition of tomatoes;
- the appearance of subtle white and yellowish spots on the leaves;
- numerous punctures on the surface of the sheet;
- sticky coating and light tubercles on the underside of the leaves.
If you touch or simply shake the stem of a tomato, you can see a large number of flying white insects. They look like moths, but several times smaller.
Mechanical methods of dealing with whitefly
It is quite possible to get rid of the whitefly by mechanical methods, while the colony of pests is not numerous. Before starting work, it is useful to reduce the air temperature in the greenhouse to + 10 ° C. A cool atmosphere inhibits pests. Whiteflies become immobile and are easier to remove.
Washing with water
First, the tomatoes are washed with water from a watering hose. The soil with downed adults is loosened by 1-1.5 cm and sprinkled with peat. After the leaves of tomatoes are washed with soapy water.
Manual removal
Collecting whiteflies by hand is quite difficult; at the slightest touch, insects scatter in different directions. Best time for this - the coolness of the early morning, in such conditions the pests are less mobile.
Many gardeners at manual collection use a vacuum cleaner. It sucks up flying insects well.
Traps
The whitefly sees colors and is strongly attracted to yellow. This feature of the pest is used in traps. You can buy a ready-made glue trap at a garden store. For example, the company "Bona Forte". Adhesive tapes of firms: "Fumitoks" or "Moskitol". 
You can make a trap yourself. The basis is cardboard, plywood or plexiglass. They are cut out (size 30 X 40) and painted in bright yellow. Then mix the components of the adhesive base in equal proportions:
- Castor oil,
- petrolatum,
- pine rosin.
The mixture is kept in a water bath until an even consistency is obtained. Glue is applied with a brush on cardboard. Traps are hung in places with the greatest accumulation of pests.
The method is quite effective. At the slightest shaking of the bushes, whiteflies take off, rush to the yellow square and stick. One trap is enough for an area of 10 m², you just need to regularly wash off adhering insects with warm water.
Fumigation
Smoke bombs are used after harvesting and destruction of plant residues. Before fumigation, the greenhouse is sealed as much as possible, all surfaces are moistened. Set fire to sulfur bombs in an amount calculated on the area of the room, and leave for 3 days. Then the greenhouse is ventilated.
How to get rid of folk remedies
For best results mechanical methods are combined with the processing of tomatoes with folk remedies. These funds are indispensable during and 20 days before the fruiting of tomatoes, when chemicals cannot be used.
- Soap solution. Laundry soap (20 g) is dissolved in warm water (1 l) and foam is whipped. Wipe the underside of the leaf plate affected by the larvae with a soft sponge.
- Tobacco. Remove tobacco from 20 cigarettes and pour 1 liter of hot water. Insist 5 days and filter.
- Yarrow. Fresh grass (300 g) is crushed, poured with water (3 l) and infused for 3 days.
- Dandelion. Crushed rhizomes (100 g) and leaves (100 g) are poured with 3 liters of water and infused for 3 days.
- Garlic. Chopped garlic (150 g) is poured into 10 liters of water, insisted for 1 day and filtered.
Before use, add 20 g to each infusion laundry soap.
Folk remedies have a short protective effect. Spraying of tomatoes is carried out every 5-7 days up to 6-7 times. With such a multiplicity, even numerous colonies can be destroyed.
Biological methods suitable for greenhouse
The best and absolutely harmless alternative chemicals- biological agents. This is the settlement in the greenhouse of insects and fungi - entomophages of the whitefly.
encrasia
Encrasia females lay eggs in the bodies of whitefly larvae, the hatching offspring feed on their contents. Whitefly larvae die and mummify.
Settlement of the entomophage in the greenhouse is carried out immediately after the pest is detected. Cards with mummified encrasia are placed evenly over the entire area. For prevention, 5-10 individuals per 1 m², with mass destruction 15-30 individuals per 1 m². If necessary, the procedure is repeated after 7-12 days.
Macrolophus
This is a predatory bug that feeds on whitefly larvae. During the period of life, one female bug destroys up to 2500 pest larvae. Upon detection of mass colonization, 4-5 individuals per 1 m² are released, for the prevention of -1 bug. 
lacewing
Only lacewing larvae lead a predatory lifestyle. They are very voracious, one larva destroys up to 600 whiteflies. Since female lacewings are very prolific, colonizing the greenhouse with this predator gives good results.
Goldeneye is used at the stage of second instar larvae. During mass colonization by a pest, 100-150 larvae per 1 m² are released into the greenhouse.
Ladybug
Predatory ladybugs and their larvae feed on adults, larvae and whitefly eggs. During the day, the insect destroys up to 100-120 pests.
To attract ladybugs to the greenhouse, dill and other umbrella plants are sown nearby, dandelion and yarrow are left to grow. The first generation of ladybugs can be caught in the meadow, and later provide them with conditions for shelter for the winter. Insects hibernate under the dry bark of trees and fallen leaves.
Verticillin
This is a biological preparation based on the entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecani. It grows into the body cavity of larvae and adults, releases toxins and causes their death.
Dissolve 25 ml of culture liquid in 1 liter of water. Tomatoes are sprayed 3 times with an interval of 7 days, carefully processing the underside of the leaves.
Chemical Methods
If the whitefly colony is numerous and threatens the well-being of the entire site, the use of insecticides is indispensable. But there is one problem. Literally after one treatment, the surviving whiteflies can acquire resistance to the active substance of the drug.
Thiamethoxam
Preparations based on this active substance are applied to the soil. It is quickly absorbed and distributed throughout the plant. After 1 day, the pests die. The protective action lasts 2-4 weeks. Hazard class - 2-3.
Preparations:
- "Aktara" VDG (watering under the root with an aqueous solution (1 g / 10 l), consumption of 1 liter per 1 m² or 25 pots);
- "Doctor" briquettes (2-4 briquettes are applied for each plant after abundant watering).
These are the leading preparations against the whitefly, and it is they that should be used primarily in protected ground conditions. 
Acetamiprid
Penetrates into plants through roots and vegetative organs. After 1 hour causes the death of pests. The period of protective action is 21 days. The drug "Mospilan". Spraying with an aqueous solution (5-8 g / 10 l).
Imidacloprid
It has a general toxic effect on pests, causes their death in 1 day. The period of protective action is 14-21 days. Hazard class 3. Almost all preparations are applied by spraying.
Preparations:
- "Biotlin" VRK (solution 5 ml / 10 l, consumption 10 l per 100 m²);
- "Commander" VRK (solution 5 ml / 10 l, consumption 10 l per 100 m²);
- "Commander Maxi" VDG (solution 1.5 g / 10 l, consumption 3 l per 1 m²);
- "Iskra Zolotaya" VRK (used only during the period of mass colonization of the whitefly, solution 5 ml / 10 l, consumption 10-30 l per 100 m²);
- "Spark" TAB (introduced into the soil for seedlings, the amount depends on the volume of the container, consumption according to the instructions);
- "Tanrek" VRK (solution 5 ml / 10 l, consumption 10 l / 100 m²);
- "Confidor Extra" VDG (solution 1.5 g / 10 l, consumption 1 liter per 10 m²).
Manufacturers note that the use of these drugs does not cause pest resistance. But in practice this is not always confirmed.
Pirimiphos-methyl
Apply by spraying, pests die within a day.
Preparations:
- "Aktellik" EC (solution 20 ml / 10 l, consumption 2 l / 10 m²);
- "Phosbecid" EC (solution 10 ml / 10 l, consumption 2 l / 10 m²).
The period of protective action is 10-15 days, hazard class -2. 
Cypermethrin
It quickly paralyzes all organs of pests, whiteflies die in a day. Hazard class 3.
Preparations:
- "Inta-Vir" TAB (solution 8 g / 10 l, consumption 2-3 l per 10 m²);
- "Iskra" TAB (solution 10 g / 10 l, consumption 2 l per 10 m²).
The period of protective action is 10-15 days.
Malathion
The protection period is 7-10 days. The substance is applied by spraying.
Preparations:
- "Fufanon" EC (solution 10 ml / 10 l, consumption 1.5 l / 10 m²);
- "Karbofos" SP (60 g / 7 l, consumption 1 l / 10 m²);
- "Kemifos" EC (solution 10 ml / 10 l, consumption 1.5 l / 10 m²).
Whiteflies quickly develop resistance, including to pirimiphos-methyl.
Pyrethrum
Insecticide in the form of an aerosol. Hazard class 3. Spray onto the surface of the plant from a distance of 30 cm. The treatment is carried out in the morning or in the evening with diffused lighting in a room where there are no drafts and wind currents.
After the first treatment with any drug, it may seem that the pests have completely disappeared. It is not always so. Very often, some insects fly away, hide and lay eggs. After a while, a new numerous colony appears, already resistant to the applied drug.
Therefore, treatment with drugs should be carried out in 2-3 visits. Each time it is better to use drugs with a new active substance. 
If the whitefly appeared on tomato seedlings at home, the plants must be isolated from indoor flowers. The use of toxic chemicals in the apartment is undesirable. An exception is preparations for irrigation under the root or in the form of briquettes, which are added to each container.
But more often, gardeners use all mechanical methods and processing with folk remedies. It is impossible to bring seedlings with pests and larvae into the greenhouse.
When planning the processing of tomatoes in open field weather conditions and ambient temperature are taken into account. Optimum temperature air for working with insecticides +12°C…+22°C. The day is cloudy, but without precipitation and strong winds. If the weather is sunny, then spraying is planned for the evening or morning hours.
Spray with chemicals during abundant flowering no tomatoes. This leads to mass death of bees. For the same reason, before processing, you need to remove all flowering weeds that grow near the garden.
The greenhouse is well ventilated until condensation is eliminated from the structures and leaves of plants. The air temperature is reduced to the optimum.
The work is carried out with a high-quality sprayer, which gives a fine drizzle. The leaves and stems of tomatoes should be moistened on all sides, sprayed and the soil near the bush.
Work in closed clothes, gloves and a respirator. The maximum contact time with insecticides is 1 hour.
The immunity of tomatoes weakened after being damaged by a pest needs to be strengthened. To do this, remove severely affected lower leaves. Tomatoes are sprayed with biostimulants: Epin, Immunocytofit, Novosil, Agat 25.
Calcium ions have a positive effect on the synthesis of proteins that help the plant survive stress. Therefore, foliar and root fertilizing with calcium will be useful.
You can find some gardener tips on how to deal with whitefly by watching the video.
Prevention
The risk of whitefly infestation of tomatoes can be reduced. For this, a number of simple measures are used:
- the soil is dug deep;
- destroy all plant debris, weeds in the garden and near it;
- the greenhouse and soil are disinfected with solutions of copper sulfate or 40% formalin;
- they freeze the soil in the greenhouse in winter: they remove removable structures, open doors and vents in cold weather;
- acquiring the leaves of seedlings, they are examined;
- the compost pit is located away from the greenhouse;
- control the temperature and humidity of the air (according to the requirements of tomatoes);
- tomatoes are planted according to the scheme recommended for the variety;
- place traps in places where pests can penetrate (near windows, doors);
- fine meshes are installed on the windows and doors of the greenhouse;
- any plant that is brought into the greenhouse is examined.
Preventive spraying will help prevent the appearance of pests. For this you can use any herbal infusion recommended for treatment.
Most problems can be easily avoided if you take the time to inspect your tomatoes every day. Often gardeners notice a disease or pests on tomatoes when an attack manifests itself. clear signs on dying plants. As a result, the cost of labor and money increases significantly.
Sooner or later, every gardener who grows tomatoes in a greenhouse has to deal with this insect pest. Indeed, the whitefly is one of the most dangerous pests of tomatoes in the greenhouse.
Next, let's talk about what kind of pest it is, why it is dangerous and, of course, we will analyze in detail how to get rid of the whitefly on tomatoes in the greenhouse, how to process and spray greenhouse tomatoes on which this pest has wound up.
The most famous species of whitefly:
- cabbage;
- tobacco (cotton);
- citrus;
- strawberry;
- greenhouse (greenhouse).
In this article, we are interested in greenhouse whitefly (greenhouse), which damages tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants and some flower plants growing in greenhouses, greenhouses and apartments.
The main characteristics of the greenhouse whitefly:
- Distributed throughout closed ground(including indoors).
- In a greenhouse and a tropical climate, it develops year-round (gives 3-4 generations), in temperate latitudes, in the wild and in greenhouses - only in summer at above-zero temperatures, in other words, the whitefly does not survive the winter.
The optimal conditions favorable for the active formation of whitefly colonies on tomato leaves are as follows:
- The air temperature is +20–25 degrees.
- Relative air humidity - 60-80%.
In other words, the whitefly prefers moist and relatively shady places.
Thus, the main reason for the appearance of whiteflies in a greenhouse is a violation, for example, excessive planting density and lack of ventilation.
The life cycle of the whitefly, like most insects, consists of three main stages (it lasts about 30-40 days in total):adults (adults), eggs, larvae(the phase lasts 10-14 days), puparia (4th instar larva, "false" cocoon). Then the cycle repeats itself, and the second generation appears.
Interesting! The whitefly is characterized by a tiered distribution of individuals:
- on young leaves - adults (adults) and eggs,
- below - larvae;
- on the lowest leaves - puparia and adults (adults) of a new generation.
Actually, the adult whitefly itself is an indirect pest. It is the females that lay eggs, placing them on the underside of the leaves.
Appearance of an adult (imago) whitefly- the body is pale yellow, with two pairs of wings with a white coating, 1-1.5 mm long, resembles a moth.
The main pest is the whitefly larva., which, immediately after leaving the egg, is attached to the lower (inner) side of the leaf and begins to feed (suck juices from it - all the nutrients).
whitefly larva- elongated-oval, flat, pale green, 0.3–0.9 mm long.
Adults (adults) and whitefly larvae
Thus, the main harm that the whitefly causes at the larval stage is that insect sucks juice from tomato leaves, while additionally releasing a sugary sticky enzyme, which is a favorable environment for reproduction sooty fungus ("black").
It is very important to prevent the large-scale dominance of the whitefly in your greenhouse, otherwise it can simply destroy all your plants.
The greenhouse whitefly is also a malicious carrier of many pathogens: yellow leaf curl virus (is one of the reasons), leaf mottling virus, infectious chlorosis. Moreover, both adults (adults) - males and females, and in some cases larvae are capable of transmitting viruses.
How does the pest get into the greenhouse?
Most often, the whitefly is brought into the greenhouse together with purchased seedlings(which was grown in industrial greenhouses) or on clothes, because she can easily get over indoor plants(fuchsia, pelargonium, balsam, citrus), or from purchased greens(again grown in a greenhouse). Also whiteflies are infected cut flowers. And often the pest enters the greenhouse together with purchased soil(which has already been used in greenhouses) or again through seedlings grown in contaminated soil.
Signs of the appearance of a whitefly in a greenhouse on tomatoes
After planting the seedlings in the greenhouse, after 10-14 days, it is necessary to inspect the foliage of tomatoes for the presence of whiteflies. So, if you touch the leaves and white butterflies instantly take off from them, then this means that whiteflies have started on your tomatoes and, most likely, have already laid their eggs.
Advice! When examining tomato bushes, use a magnifying glass, because. insects are very small.
As we found out earlier, whitefly larvae feed on the juice of young leaves, which significantly weakens the immunity of the plant (tomato). This is manifested in a slowdown in the growth and development of tomato bushes, and also negatively affects their flowering, fruit formation and fruit ripening.
In addition to the direct harm caused by the pest itself, the condition of plants is negatively affected by sooty mushrooms, which settle on the sugary secretions of whitefly larvae.
First, a sticky coating (honeydew) forms on the foliage in the form of shiny white spots (a waste product of the larvae), then they (the spots) are covered with a sooty fungus (“black”) and turn black (a black coating forms on them). As a result, it (the fungus) clogs the pores of the leaves, which hinders the processes of respiration and photosynthesis. As a result, the affected leaves turn yellow, dry out and fall off.
Thus, due to the harmful activity of the whitefly (namely its larvae), tomatoes begin to hurt, lag behind in growth, which leads to uneven ripening of the fruit, as well as to a change in the color of the fruit core from pink or red to white. As a result, the commercial quality of the fruit drops noticeably.
By the way! By its negative effect, the whitefly is in many ways reminiscent of aphids.
Preventive measures against whiteflies on tomatoes: how to protect tomatoes in a greenhouse
Remember! Any problem is easier to prevent than to fix later.
To prevent the appearance of whiteflies, it is recommended to perform the following preventive measures:
- Conduct regular preventive inspections for the presence of a pest in the greenhouse.
- Promptly destroy weeds.
- Comply with growing conditions.
- Properly use and care for the greenhouse, namely:
- every autumn and/or spring should be carried out cleaning (to take out all the vegetation), including steaming or freezing the soil in a greenhouse (if you are a resident of the southern region);
By the way! About how to do it right prepare the greenhouse in the spring for the planting season, told, and handle in autumn — .
However, it should be noted that, unlike spider mite the whitefly on the surface, in the greenhouse, is not preserved, only in the ground.
- make full ventilation in the greenhouse;
- take other preventive measures and use special means protection and methods of struggle.
Video: how to get rid of whiteflies in a greenhouse in autumn
How to deal with whiteflies on tomatoes: when and how to process - the best methods of struggle
There are several ways to deal with the whitefly in a greenhouse on tomatoes:
- mechanical methods (glue traps);
- biological methods (settlement of the greenhouse with insects-entomophagous);
- chemical methods (drugs against insect pests - insecticides).
And folk remedies, decoctions of various herbs, but it’s worth saying right away that they are very ineffective ... very.
Indeed, getting rid of the whitefly in the greenhouse is quite difficult. Therefore, without fail, regularly carefully inspect your greenhouse tomatoes (namely, the lower or reverse side their leaves) in order to detect its appearance as early as possible and prevent it from multiplying strongly. If you notice at least a small number of adults, then proceed to processing without delay.
Advice! For effective fight with whitefly, use everything possible methods. You will hardly be able to completely destroy the whitefly in the greenhouse, but it is possible to reduce its number and reduce harmfulness.
Video: whitefly and methods of dealing with it
Mechanical Methods
The fight against the whitefly in the greenhouse can be successfully carried out with the help of yellow sticky tapes, glue traps hung in the greenhouse, as well as fumigators.
Note! Naturally, such measures will only help you get rid of flying adults. If they have already laid eggs, only chemical and biological means of control are used against the larvae.
You can buy sticky tape or glue traps at a hardware or gardening store, or you can make your own. 
To make a whitefly trap yourself, with your own hands, you need to cover a sheet of cardboard or plywood (approximately 20 by 20 cm or more in size) with a layer of yellow paint, and then apply an adhesive base, for example, from honey, technical petroleum jelly, grease, castor or any other mineral oil, glue from rodents. Next, hang this yellow sticky cardboard on a rope (string) at the level of the tops of the plants.
By the way! According to experts, it is better to use cardboard to create a whitefly trap. yellow color, as this shade is able to lure insects. As a result, whitefly butterflies will fly to bright squares and stick to their surface.
There is an opinion that it is effective to use against whitefly fumigator(which is usually used against mosquitoes and flies). To do this, it is necessary to turn on the device in the mains (by extending the extension cord into the greenhouse) and completely close all doors and ventilation windows. A clear disadvantage of using this tool is the fact that, in addition to the whitefly, the fumigator destroys all other inhabitants of the greenhouse, including useful ones.
Advice! You can also mechanically get rid of the pest simply periodically irrigating tomato bushes with plain water, and then washing the leaves with soapy water.
biological methods
To combat the whitefly, you can use insects that feed on this pest (they are also called entomophage insects).
This option is especially relevant for gardeners who exclude any use of chemicals.
These include ladybug, lacewing fly, rider beetle.
You can buy biological enemies of the whitefly in specialized stores or on Internet resources.
Chemicals
Naturally, it is easiest to get rid of whiteflies on tomatoes in a greenhouse most quickly and completely with the help of chemicals (insecticides).
A few rules and tips for spraying tomatoes from whiteflies:
- Solutions should be prepared only according to the instructions on the packages, following the dosage recommendations (no less and no more).
- It is also necessary to use solutions only according to the instructions.
It should be processed either early in the morning, before the first rays of the sun appear, or late in the evening, after sunset. If during the day, then only in cloudy weather.
- Be sure to pay attention to the waiting period after processing (after how long you can eat fruits).
Important! Systemic drugs have long term waiting (up to 20 days), i.e., when the tomatoes ripen, they can no longer be used.
- Be sure to pay attention to the duration of the drug, i. how long will it protect your plants from pests.
- To improve the effect of the treatment, you can mix drugs with different active ingredients (preferably different chemical classes).
- As a rule, the first treatment is carried out at the first appearance of the pest, and repeated application - with an interval of 7-14 days.
As a result, several treatments will have to be carried out, because. most drugs act only against adults (adults), and they do not affect the larvae in any way.
- It is necessary to carry out the processing very carefully, especially spraying the inner (lower) part of the leaves.
- In order not to cause addiction to the pest, you should periodically alternate drugs, or rather their active ingredients.
Note! Many drugs from different companies have the same active ingredient.
most popular and effective drugs(insecticides) for getting rid of whiteflies on tomatoes are (in parentheses given the active substance, method of entry or nature of exposure and chemical class):
- Alatar (
- Aliot ( Malathion (Karbofos), enteric-contact insectoacaricide, a class of organophosphorus compounds (FOS);
- Aktara ( Thiamethoxam (Aktara), systemic insecticide of entero-contact action);
Note! It is used for watering the soil under plants.
- Actellik (Pirimifos-methyl (Actellik) , systemic enteric-contact insectoacaricide + fumigant, class of organophosphorus compounds (FOS);
- Biotlin ( Imidacloprid, systemic insecticide of enteric-contact action , class of neonicotinoids).
- Inta-Ts-M ( Malathion (Karbofos) and Cypermethrin, an insecticide of contact-intestinal action, a class of pyrethroids + organophosphorus compounds (FOS);
- Intavir ( Cypermethrin, an insecticide of contact-intestinal action, a class of pyrethroids);
- Karate Zeon (Lambda Cyhalothrin) , insecticide of contact-intestinal action, pyrethroid class);
- spark of gold Imidacloprid, a systemic insecticide of contact-intestinal action, a class of neonicotinoids);
- Talstar (Bifenthrin (Talstar), a contact-intestinal insecticide, pyrethroid class);
- Teppeki (Flonicamide, has systemic and translaminar activity, chemical class - pyridine carboxamides);
- Bison ( Imidacloprid, a systemic insecticide of contact-intestinal action, a class of neonicotinoids).
Interesting! There are also biological agents against insect pests, such as Akarin, Fitoverm, Bitoxibacillin, Aktofit, Verticillin. However, they are not very effective against whiteflies.
Video: how to deal with the whitefly
Folk remedies
If the defeat of tomatoes in the greenhouse by the whitefly is not very strong, then in order not to use chemistry, you can try to use folk remedies, which, as a rule, use various infusions of herbs, garlic, etc.:
By the way! Folk remedies are most often used to get rid of whitefly larvae, and not adults.
- Turpentine + camphor oil (10%).
Recipe from Procvetok channel per 10 liters of water (base):
- gum turpentine (up to 1.5 l - for the most difficult cases for plants with dense leaves, up to 1 l - for difficult cases for more delicate plants (tomato, cucumber), 0.2-0.5 l - for prevention on all plants and in the case of single pests)
- laundry or green soap - up to 50-150 g (depending on the amount of turpentine),
- an aqueous solution of ammonia (25%) - 1-2 tablespoons - to enhance the dissolving effect of turpentine.
Modifications:
- Turpentine can be replaced (up to 50%) with camphor oil 10%.
- To the solution, you can add 50-100 ml of tincture of mint, eucalyptus, coniferous extract.
- It can be replaced with decoctions of the same plants - 100-200 g of dry plants are boiled in a liter of water, the decoction is infused and added to the turpentine solution.
- Benzyl benzoate - 20-30 ml per 1 liter of solution.
- It is very good to add nicotinic acid to the solution to restore plants from damage by pests - 1 tablet of 50 mg per liter of solution (either 3 grams of dry or 12 grams of raw yeast).
Plants should be shed or sprayed with a similar composition in the evening, over well-spilled soil.
Waiting period: if without benzyl benzoate, then it is practically absent. But first you just need to remove the fruits, then process and wait at least 24 hours. If with benzyl benzoate, it is better to wait 2-3 days. It is clear that after any processing, fruits and vegetables must be thoroughly washed, even if it is just laundry soap or serum.
- Garlic tincture;
- Dandelion infusion;
- Infusion of wormwood;
- Infusion of yarrow;
- Tobacco infusion.
Some more summer residents against the whitefly spend fumigation of greenhouses with tobacco checkers(not sulfur, but tobacco).
You can also try to artificially lower the temperature in the greenhouse (as you remember, the favorable temperature for the whitefly is + 20-25 degrees), opening the greenhouse at night, putting windows and ventilation doors.
Of course, it will not be possible to completely destroy the pest in such ways, but it is quite possible to reduce the population.
Thus, now you know that, first of all, it is necessary to follow the basic rules for the care and cultivation of greenhouse tomatoes, as well as to carry out preventive measures. But in any case, you will most likely have to use one of the above methods of dealing with whiteflies on tomatoes.
Video: whitefly remedies
In contact with
When planting tomatoes, gardeners often look forward to the next harvest and plan what dishes and preserves they will make from ripe berries and vegetables. Often, a lot of pests lie in wait for the crop, and in order to protect it from their attacks, a lot of effort must be made. The whitefly can be a source of great crop damage. Learn more about how to recognize an insect and how to eliminate it.
Where does whitefly come from on tomatoes?
Experienced gardeners who grow tomatoes in the garden or in the greenhouse know how important it is to carefully inspect the bushes of the plant during the seasonal period. Be prepared for the whitefly to be found on the foliage and stems during inspection.
This butterfly got its name from the white, almost transparent color of its wings. It is small, about 3 mm long. On the white wings you can see a small powdery coating. The harm from such a small fly is that it draws all the juices from the plant (the juices are its food). The leaves of the affected culture turn pale, and soon completely lose their color. The complete death of the plant occurs.
The first inspection of the culture should be carried out within 10-12 days after planting the seedlings.
White butterflies appear on plants during the warm summer months. It is important that there is a lot of precipitation, because for this aphid warmth and moisture are optimal living conditions. If the air temperature drops to + 10ºС and below, then adult butterflies die. It should be noted that their eggs do not suffer from low temperatures in any way and tolerate even severe frosts well. During the season, one female can lay about 250 of them.
The whitefly does well in greenhouses and greenhouses. "Resort" conditions for it are considered to be the temperature of humid air + 20- + 22ºС, thickened plantings of crops in a greenhouse or in open ground. That is why it is necessary to ventilate greenhouses so that the air does not stagnate.
Important! The source of reproduction of the whitefly can be contaminated soil that got to the site or into the greenhouse along with seedlings, and the seedlings themselves. Larvae can start in the remains of leaves and tops of plants that have not been harvested since autumn.
Signs of infection
At the initial stage of appearance, it is not so easy to see the whitefly: you need to carefully examine the back side of the leaf. And if we take into account the fact that gardeners plant large plantations of tomatoes, then such a thing is not only troublesome, but also physically exhausting. In addition to inspection, there are other methods and signs that give out a whitefly.
When growing tomatoes, you should pay attention to:
- Above the bushes of plants can be seen white cloud of moth-like midges. The cloud soars especially intensively after shaking the bush.
- Scales appear on the back of the leaf, which are hard to see due to their translucent color. These are the larvae of the pest.
- The appearance of honeydew on the leaves- white sticky coating.
- Blackening of parts of the bush infected with sooty fungi. Such sooty fungi are the waste products of an insect.
- Slow development of bushes: Tomatoes that suffer from whitefly attacks are stunted.
- Leaves on tomatoes turn pale and curl.
What is dangerous whitefly
From the attacks of whiteflies, it is not so much the part of the plant on which they are located that suffers, – more damage falls on the parts that are located below, because all the waste products of insects linger on the lower sheets, forming a film of sticky whitish coating. This phenomenon is provoked by the fact that moth feces contain fungal spores that take root in leafy tissues. We are talking about sooty fungi. The infected part of the leaf is covered with a white coating, then turns black and dies. This is fraught with the death of the entire tomato plantation. And there can be no question of any harvest.
The body of whitefly larvae hatched from eggs releases a sticky enzyme that resembles liquid wax. Thanks to this enzyme, the aphid attaches to the surface of the plant. And given the fact that pests live on the bottom of the leaf, then this enzyme is simply necessary for them. In addition, sticky plaque is a favorable environment for the life and rapid reproduction of soot fungus, the harm from which can be irreparable.
Methods of dealing with whiteflies on tomatoes
The fight against whiteflies can be complicated (or completely useless) by the fact that pests can be located on parts of the culture in various phases of their development: in the form of an egg, a moth, a larva. If you organize the struggle process correctly, planting tomatoes can be saved (and, accordingly, the harvest).
Did you know? Tomatoes are an ideal product for those who are on a diet: 100 grams of this ripe berry contains only 23 calories.
Chemicals
After detecting an insect in a garden or greenhouse, it is effective to resort to chemicals fight. Processing plantations must be carried out in special protective clothing. Be sure to use a respirator. Such measures are necessary to ensure that chemical solutions do not get on the skin, eyes or respiratory system of a person.
Read more about how to process tomatoes:
Important! Solution cannot be used.» after he had stood. Even if a large amount of the diluted drug remains after processing, it is forbidden to store it and use it in the future.
- "Talstar". The peculiarity of this insect-acaricide is that, due to its contact-intestinal action, it effectively helps to remove not only the whitefly, but also other insects that have coveted your plantings. Unlike the listed drugs, it not only paralyzes nervous system, but also stops the nutritional function of aphids. For one hectare of plantings, up to 3 liters of working solution will be needed. The protection lasts for two weeks.
Folk remedies
Many gardeners are wondering what to do with the whitefly if there is no desire to resort to chemicals. The answer is simple: turn to the people's ingenuity. Some folk remedies that you can resort to will help in pest control:
Important! If the situation is abandoned, andwhitefly invasionsignificant, pest control should be organized by combining folk methods with insecticides.
Mechanical Methods
The most common way is rinsing with soapy water under considerable pressure. It is better to use laundry or tar soap. The ratio of dosages is 30-50 g of soap per 1 liter of hot water. It is necessary to carry out the spraying procedure three times, observing a weekly interval. With this tool, you can wash the leaves of tomatoes, but this is a rather troublesome task, especially for owners of large plantations.
Strengthen the action 1 l soap solution 150 g of kerosene will help. The agent should be thoroughly stirred until an emulsion is obtained, then add warm water(5 l). This tool is intended for irrigation of the soil in the greenhouse. Make sure that it does not get on the leaves or stems of the plant. After the irrigation procedure, the greenhouse is closed for 3 hours. At this time, the solution evaporates, and its evaporation kills the pest moths. After the procedure, you need to ventilate the greenhouse well. And after 4-8 days, repeat all the actions, because during this period new moths appear.
You can get rid of the larvae manually, but this method takes too long.
Gardeners also resort to collecting adult pests, using a small vacuum cleaner. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the morning or evening, when it is cool outside. This can also be done on cloudy days.
Did you know?A tomato can be called a vegetable that gives joy, because it contains serotonin, a hormone of joy that can cheer you up.
biological method
Preventive measures
Despite the many methods of pest control, it is still better to simply prevent its appearance on tomatoes.
To do this, follow the following preventive measures:
- Prevent the appearance of gout, nettle, wood lice in the garden plot. These plants attract whiteflies.
- Monitor the temperature in the greenhouse. The best option- +15ºС. A higher temperature becomes a favorable environment for the life of an insect.
- Ventilate the greenhouse in time in order to avoid an increase in air humidity.
- When planting a tomato maintain the necessary distance between seedlings so that there are no thickenings. So, only 4 seedlings can be planted per 1 m² according to the scheme: 50 x 50 or 70 x 30.
- In a timely manner stalk plants.
- When buying seedlings, it must be carefully considered.: larvae can hide under the leaves.
- Preparation of a garden plot for planting a tomato should begin in the fall.: the soil is cleared of tops, fallen leaves, the soil is loosened.
- greenhouse in which tomatoes will be planted, it is necessary freeze well in winter: it must be opened when the air temperature drops below -10°C (-15°C).
- Aphids can get on indoor flowers and only then move to the seedlings if you grow them on the windowsills yourself.
- Before planting tomatoes in the greenhouse, carefully disinfect it(use disinfectants- potassium permanganate, blue vitriol) and paint the construction details. The pest can hide in greenhouse crevices. Take care of good ventilation of the room.
- Do not fertilize the soil with compost.
Video: Another way to get rid of whiteflies
Do you still think that the most important thing in growing tomatoes is preparing the site and planting the plant? No and no again. The culture must be constantly looked after, protecting from pests. Otherwise, you can not wait for the harvest: it can be destroyed by an inconspicuous whitefly - a small moth. When correct organized care and compliance with preventive measures, insect attacks can be beaten off almost painlessly.
If suddenly you find that a whitefly on tomatoes has appeared in your garden, then in no case do not let things take their course. The whitefly is an insect that harms not only tomatoes. "Under hot hand Other vegetables, as well as herbs and flowers, can get in.
Whiteflies are small, no more than 3 mm in length, flies with wings covered with a former coating. They inhabit the plant in large numbers. Their greatest accumulation, as a rule, is on the underside of the leaf. The main harm that the whitefly causes on tomatoes is the feces that it leaves on the leaf, as a rule, on its upper part. Initially, they look like a shiny plaque. Later, in places covered with such a coating, soot fungi form, which are first white and then black.
The fight against whitefly on tomatoes begins with the prevention of its appearance. For this, plants that are threatened with whitefly damage are seated in well-ventilated places with a low temperature, if possible 14-15 degrees. Because main reason the appearance of an insect - too close arrangement of plants in poorly ventilated places with high temperature and humidity.
If whiteflies have already infested stands, control measures should be aggressive. To begin with, if the plants are inhabited by adult midges, it is necessary to place glue traps nearby. Commercially available adhesive tapes designed for flies are fine. You can make these traps yourself. To do this, paint pieces of cardboard or any other material in a bright color, for example, yellow or white (so you will attract insects to the bait), and then grease the surface with castor oil or petroleum jelly. Insects, sitting on such a surface, will stick.
The next step, thanks to which the whitefly on tomatoes will disappear, is spraying the plants using various chemicals. According to the advice experienced gardeners, an effective folk remedy for the fight against whiteflies - from a pharmacy, for the treatment of scabies. Of course, you need to buy not an ointment, but an emulsion, which, after dilution with water in a ratio of 30-50 grams of the product per liter of water, will become a composition for spraying damaged plants. Do not forget to wash off the insects and plaque covering the leaves with water, only then proceed with the processing. Spray the plants every few days until the whitefly on the tomatoes is completely gone.
Another folk remedy is an infusion of garlic. To prepare it, pour about 150 grams of garlic with a liter of water, close the container with the composition tightly with a lid and insist for 5 days. After the specified time, the tool is ready. Dilute about 6 grams of infusion with a liter of water and spray the plants at the same frequency and in the same way as in the first case.
If folk remedies, which are rather mild, do not help, do not delay with a complete cure and proceed with the treatment with pesticides. When choosing a drug, carefully study the instructions for use - not all products are safe for all types of plants. Consider the location of your plantings: some products are recommended for indoor use, and some outdoors. The method of use for various drugs is different: some are used once, while others require a course of procedures.
Some gardeners are sure - reliable means protection from pests - greenhouses. However, it is not. A greenhouse can really protect plants from pests, but not from all, but only from a small part. For example, the building will not save from the whitefly. This is a small moth (its size does not exceed 1-2 mm) white color. They run in "packs". That is, your landings will be attacked not by one small butterfly, but by several hundred. Despite its small size, the pest causes simply irreparable damage and is able to destroy the entire crop that you have planted. Tomatoes are especially susceptible. This happens as follows: the whitefly feeds on the sap of plants, sucking it and seedlings, it dooms them to certain death.
How to understand that the plant is suffering from whiteflies? It just starts to fade. The leaves curl up and wither. Small black spots appear (places from which the moths sucked the juice), you can also notice the pests themselves, in the advanced stage their population is so large that these white bodies are simply impossible to lose sight of. In addition, the plants remain white coating(especially when whiteflies are just starting to populate on plantings), it can be detected when examining a plant (this should be done regularly).
Favorite conditions for the existence of whiteflies: high humidity air, high temperatures, windlessness. Very similar to those very greenhouse conditions, isn't it? Therefore, the mythical statement that the greenhouse is the enemy of pests is really a myth.
Another danger posed by moths is the liquid they secrete (honeydew). This is an ideal place for the development of fungus, so the damage from the pest can be double: sucking the juice from the plant and infecting it with a fungus (sooty fungus).
It is necessary to fight this infection, otherwise you can be left without a crop and with an infected area. It is quite difficult to eradicate midges from the site, however, when applying complex measures, this is quite realistic. The main thing is to know how the correct and effective measures to combat the hated whitefly. After reading this article, you will definitely find useful ways for yourself.
How to deal with whitefly
Everyone knows that the methods of combating any pests are divided into three groups: mechanical measures, folk ways and chemicals.
Through mechanical methods it is possible to remove large pests (eg slugs) or insect pests. All you need is yours physical strength. Usually, these methods consist of manually picking up pests, digging traps, and installing various repellent devices. Suitable for the fight against all pests.
Folk ways- recipes for solutions that are prepared from ingredients available to everyone. They are especially popular because their effects are completely safe for both humans and plants. However, some methods are not effective.
Chemical processing produced with the help of specially designed drugs. They can have a level of toxicity that harms plants, animals and nature's helpers (birds, bees, etc.). However, now there are fewer such drugs, the most popular ones are safe. This method is more effective than others, however, it is not particularly popular.
Mechanical Measures
The only available mechanical measure here it is setting traps. Such units have adhesive actions. In the store you can look at the following:
- Argus;
- Bona Forte;
- Pheromones.
However, it would be advisable to use them only in small areas under crops (otherwise it is simply unprofitable financially).
If you do not want to spend money on purchased traps, you can make alternative ones at home. You will need colored cardboard (so that you can easily distinguish small moths) and glue with long term drying (it is better to use products, such as honey). Hang the received devices among the beds with tomatoes and change them as whiteflies stick to them.
In addition, glue traps are only effective on early stages appearance of the whitefly. If your plants start to die, and you can clearly see a whole flock of midges on the leaves, it's too late and it's time to move on to other measures.
Another effective method, but too expensive when it comes to large plantings - fumigators. They poison the pest by airborne droplets.
Chemicals
Insecticides will help us fight and eventually completely destroy whiteflies. These are special preparations aimed at the destruction of harmful insects, so their effectiveness is increased.
- Karbofos. The good old remedy will indeed be effective in the fight against whiteflies. It is not so expensive: for 20 grams of funds, the price will be about 30 rubles, for 60 rubles, respectively, 60 rubles. It is also available in liquid form - the price per liter is approximately 150 rubles. Minimum consumption: 10 square meters you will need 10 milliliters of a concentrated solution (mixed in 10 liters of water).
- Aktara. It is also a fairly popular drug, famous for its multi-functionality (capable of destroying various insects). A bag of 4 grams will cost about 105 rubles. This amount is enough to process 6-7 acres (0.6 ml diluted in 4 liters of water per 1 weave). The protective effect is about 3-4 weeks.
- Fitoverm. Available in liquid form: 25 ml cost about 110 rubles. For 100 square meters you need 5 ml of the drug, diluted in 3 liters of water. This insecticide differs from the previous ones in that you can do several treatments at once with an interval of 15-2 days (no more than 3 times).
How to process
Remember to protect yourself when working with chemicals
To get started, choose the right drug. Dilute it with water in the proportions indicated on the instructions. Carry out the treatment with the method indicated on the package or the most suitable for you (this can be spraying or watering). Carry out the processing carefully, do not forget about inside leaf (places where whiteflies gather in heaps).
Use protective clothing, as some drugs can be harmful to humans and cause an allergic reaction if they get on the mucous membranes.
Very important point: when treated with the same preparation 2-3 times in a row, whiteflies develop immunity, so chemicals will not have any effect on them. Therefore, you should alternate drugs.
Folk ways of fighting
- soapy water. Dissolve a bar of laundry soap in a bucket of water. Water the plantings well, the areas around. This will not completely eliminate whiteflies, but it will help reduce their population.
- garlic water. Crush two large cloves of garlic and mix with a liter of water. Leave for a while (half an hour is enough) and water the affected areas.
Whitefly Prevention
- If there is high humidity in the air, it is not worth spraying the plants.
- Avoid crowded plantings. Plant bushes with the correct distance.
- Do not forget to ventilate the crop.
- Plant only those varieties of tomato that are resistant not only to the whitefly, but also to pests in general.
- Remember that before new landings - the soil must be prepared. Clean it from last year's residues, tops and other products.
