What are the latest control methods for whiteflies on cucumbers

Whiteflies on cucumbers are a pest that harms cucumbers, causing symptoms such as leaf discoloration, yellowing, and wilting, and in severe cases plant death. Therefore, growers should do a good job of controlling whiteflies on cucumbers. Below, let's take a look at whitefly control techniques together with the editor.

1. Habits and symptoms

Adult whiteflies have a strong tendency toward yellow but avoid white and silvery-white. In the field, they first appear in small spots and then gradually spread, with the insect population density distributed evenly in the field. Adults like to gather on the backs of young leaves in the upper part of the plant and lay eggs there, which do not fall off easily. As the plant grows, the adults continuously move to upper leaves, so a certain pattern appears: the uppermost young leaves have the most adults and newly laid pale yellow eggs; the slightly lower leaves mostly have dark brown eggs; further down are successively young nymphs, older nymphs, and pupae. Adults and nymphs gather on the backs of leaves and suck the leaf sap, causing leaves to lose green color and wither, fruits to become deformed and hardened, and plants to age prematurely. In addition, they secrete large amounts of honeydew, polluting leaves and fruits and often causing large areas of sooty mold.

2. Agricultural control

The previous crop should be vegetables that whiteflies do not like to eat, such as celery, yellow garlic sprouts, and other vegetables tolerant of low temperatures, which can reduce the source of the pest. At the same time, cultivate pest-free and disease-free seedlings, separate the seedling-raising area from the planting area, fumigate to kill insects before sowing, remove diseased and residual plants and weeds, and set insect-proof nets at ventilation openings to prevent outside pests from invading. In addition, you can artificially breed the whitefly natural enemy Encarsia formosa in the greenhouse, which can also effectively control whiteflies.

3. Physical control

Whiteflies are attracted to yellow, so yellow boards can be set up in the greenhouse to trap and kill adults. Use yellow boards of suitable size, coat them with yellow paint, and then apply a layer of machine oil on top. Generally, 30-40 boards per mu is enough, and they should generally be recoated once every 7-10 days. This can effectively control adult whiteflies and inhibit their reproduction.

4. Chemical control

Whiteflies have the characteristics of being small, large in number, fast to reproduce, and broad in harm. Once they occur, they are extremely difficult to control, so frequent inspection is needed, with prevention as the main approach, and continuous control without interruption can achieve good results. In the early stage of occurrence, frequent inspection can be used, with prevention as the main approach, and continuous control without interruption can achieve good results. Buprofezin, propargite, and pirimicarb can be used for spray control, generally sprayed once every 5-7 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays. Dichlorvos can also be used for fumigation; pour dichlorvos onto wheat straw piles scattered in different sections of the greenhouse, light them, and keep the greenhouse closed for 1 night. 

The above is an introduction to the control methods for whiteflies on cucumbers. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.