Gardens attract people with their beauty and tasty produce, but they also draw in a variety of pests looking for a feast. Tiny white flying insects are among the most common pests attracted to gardens. These pesky critters, known as whiteflies, can cause quite a ruckus among your plants. Whiteflies are sap-sucking insects that can turn your lush leaves yellow, make them wilt, and stunt your plants’ growth. But don’t worry! Armed with the right knowledge and a few eco-friendly tricks, you can evict these nuisances and keep your garden vibrant. Join us on this delightful adventure to keep your garden vibrant and whitefly-free!

Chances are that you’ve stumbled across this article because you already have whiteflies in your garden. While it’s great to know what they are, and you certainly want to know how to prevent them in future, that’s not why you’re here. You need to know what to do NOW to protect your garden! AmIright?! [Click here to get immediately to the juicy details below and save your garden!] Then, be sure to save this article so you can come back to read all the gritty details about this garden fiend.

What are Whiteflies?

The name “whitefly” is a bit of a misnomer, since they’re not really flies. Whiteflies belong to the order Hemiptera. This makes them what’s known as “True Bugs,” a giant classification of insects including aphids, mealybugs, scales, and even my favorite insect of summer: cicadas. While it’s common for most people to refer to all insects as “bugs,” the term “bug” actually refers to insects that have two sets of wings folded on top of one another.

Lifecycle

Whitefly eggs take about a week to hatch, then they spend a couple weeks as nymphs. After which, they enter a pupa for about a week to grow wings and reach adulthood. They then spend the next month or so mating, laying eggs, and infesting new areas.

Contrary to what some internet sources will tell you, whiteflies don’t live in soil. They spend their entire lives living off of plants. In the colder months, whiteflies overwinter in dormant foliage, and come out again when the temperatures warm up. They primarially hang out on the underside of leaves, hiding from other airborne predators like birds.

Whiteflies have a circadian rhythm. That means they have a day/night cycle. They are active during the day, and settle down to sleep at night. This, combined with knowing that whiteflies hang out on the undersides of leaves, is key to know when fighting whiteflies. Sprays that you use to combat whiteflies (like those listed below) are best applied early in the morning or after the sun has set. That way, you catch your enemy when they’re asleep and less likely to fly away.

Plants Whiteflies Like

Whiteflies, like most other insects in their scientific order, prefer plants that are more succulent. This means the plant’s pores are easier to get to and bite into. Tropical plants like prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura), snake plants (Dracaena (Sansevieria) Trifasciata), and Anthuriums (Anthurium andraeanum) are less susceptible to whiteflies due to the waxy-like covering over their leaves.

Plants like tomatoes, basil, and even hot peppers like cayenne peppers and habaneros are tasty treats to whiteflies. Unlike some other true bugs, whiteflies don’t seem to mind a little capsaicin and are happy with spicy food.

Friendly Garden Whitefly Hunters

When you’re battling insects that are trying to destroy your hard work in the garden, it’s difficult to remember that your garden attracts good insects too! Keep an eye out for friendly insects like lady beetles. These helpful garden insects are commonly, incorrectly, referred to as ladybugs, or (correctly) referred to as ladybirds outside of the United States. Not only do they love to dine on whitefly larva and nymphs, they’re wonderful predators of aphids as well.

Be careful, though! Make sure you’re looking at the right kind of ladybug! Some not-so-nice insects like to masquerade as the friendly ladybug, but are actually harmful to humans and their non-native environment. North America has been infested with the dreaded Asian Lady Beetle for decades. It’s key that you know which lady beetle is which.

Other beneficial predators of whiteflies include (but certainly aren’t limited to): huntsmen, assassin bugs, spiders, birds, and lacewings.

Whiteflies Attract Unfriendly Garden Visitors, Too

Whiteflies aren’t harmful to humans by themselves. They don’t bite humans or pets and are not venomous creatures. However, some of the insects whiteflies attract can be harmful such as the assassin bugs mentioned above and spiders. While these creatures will help to kill your whitefly infestation, they also may harm humans if disturbed. If you have a whitefly infestation and you see these creatures in your garden, it’s best to just leave them alone. They’ll move on peacefully once they’ve consumed the whitefly feast. And your garden will be better off for it!

However, there is one visitor attracted to whiteflies who is often of no help at all. If you see ants on your garden leaves, chances are that you have a bigger problem than an ant infestation on your hands.

Ants have a symbiotic relationship with several garden pests including both whiteflies and aphids. Both whiteflies and aphids exude a substance known as honeydew when they’re feasting on your plants. Ants find honeydew incredibly sweet and delectable. As such, they’ll go out of their way not to prevent the pests from draining your plants dry. In fact, they’ll even farm the pests to get them to produce more honeydew for the ant colony.

How to Get Rid of Whiteflies

So, whiteflies are attacking your garden, hm? It’s dangerous to go it alone. Take this advice, garden warrior, and learn how to fight back!

Death by Desiccation

Desiccation is the removal of moisture from something. Think of it as similar to dehydration, but desiccation can refer to any moisture, while dehydration refers only to water. Whiteflies, like their cousins, aphids and spider mites, have soft bodies that dry out easily with the application of desiccating agents. These solutions dry out the soft tissues of the whiteflies, killing the adults and dehydrating the larva and eggs.

• Rubbing Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) is usually 70% alcohol already, but you still need to dilute it further to make sure it doesn’t harm your plants. The best ratio I’ve used to get rid of white flies is a solution of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 2 parts water. Whiteflies are a bit hardier than aphids, so they need the extra-strong solution.
• White Vinegar: Vinegar is less harmful to your plants than rubbing alcohol and so can be used at a higher ratio. A ratio of 1 part white vinegar to 1 parts water will usually do the trick for whiteflies.

Death by Drowning

These methods essentially do the opposite of the methods described above. These sprays congeal around the whiteflies’ soft bodies and slowly asphyxiates them.  It only works when it comes into direct contact, but it most certainly does work.

• Neem Oil: Neem oil is a natural oil from the seeds of the neem tree, an evergreen found in the Indian subcontinent. Use a ratio of 1 part neem oil to 4 parts water, equating to 1/4 cup neem oil to 1 cup of water.
• Castile Dish Soap: Most dish soap has elements like sodium (salt) that can be abrasive to your plants. Castile soap is a kind of soap that is made entirely from vegetable and fruit oils. As such, it’s better for your plants. A little goes a long way here: just a couple of drops of soap in a quart of water.

If you use these solutions, be sure to rinse your plants afterward to avoid clogging the stomata on the leaves. You want to drown the whiteflies, not your plants!

Adult Whitefly Eradication

Since whiteflies are flying creatures, one way to capture the adults is to trap them with fly traps. Whiteflies are attracted to bright colors like yellow. So deploying yellow sticky traps is a good way to capture adult whiteflies in your garden and prevent them from laying more eggs on your plants. Bonus, these sticky traps also work extremely well on fungus gnats.

How to Prevent a Whitefly Infestation

As the old saying goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Meaning: it’s better to prevent whiteflies to begin with. Once you’ve eliminated the whitefly threat to your garden, prevent it in future by using the following rules of (green) thumb:

Balance the Nitrogen in Your Soil

Whiteflies are attracted to an abundance of nitrogen in the soil. Because plants use nitrogen to bulk up their leaves, an abundance of nitrogen in the soil means a tasty feeding ground for whiteflies and their young. It signals an abundant food source for insects that like to munch on your plants’ leaves.

Make sure your soil has a balance of the macronutrients your plants need. The primary macronutrients plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These are often called the NPK variable which fertilizer companies print prominently on fertilizer labels. Other nutrients you should balance include calcium, and micronutrients such as magnesium, sulfur, iron, and zinc. Know what your garden needs by testing your soil and reading fertilizer labels carefully.

Companion Plant Marigolds to Deter Whiteflies

Marigolds are a garden’s guardian angels. They deter so many pests that your garden might otherwise attract. Plus, they’re beautiful and add a splash of color beneath and between tomato plants and herb bushes. Their signature scent is a clear signal to pests that your garden is off limits.

Bye-Bye Whiteflies!

While gardens attract both people and pests, understanding how to manage and control issues like whiteflies can make a significant difference in keeping your plants healthy. Regular monitoring and timely action are key to ensuring your garden remains a flourishing, productive, and enjoyable space. By implementing practical, eco-friendly solutions and staying vigilant, you can effectively address pest problems and maintain a thriving garden.

Have you faced challenges with whiteflies or other pests in your garden? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!