Methods for Controlling Whiteflies on Flowers and a Detailed Explanation of Edible Mushroom Cultivation Techniques

The whitefly is an insect of the family Aleyrodidae in the order Homoptera, with a body length of 0.95 to 1.4 mm, winged, with the wings covered in a waxy white powder. Adults can fly short distances, and once their mouthparts are inserted into leaf tissue they lose their mobility and begin a sedentary life. Flowers harmed by whiteflies include fuchsia, lantana, Chinese hibiscus, azalea, Chinese rose, hydrangea, jasmine, scarlet sage, pomegranate, kumquat, sweet osmanthus, and gardenia, and more than ten generations can occur in a year, with both nymphs and adults able to cause damage. In the area of the Qinling Mountains, adults and nymphs cannot overwinter in the open field, but they can overwinter in greenhouses in stages such as eggs and nymphs.

Whiteflies use their mouthparts to suck the sap of host plants, causing the affected leaves to lose their green color and turn yellow, wilt, and die, and they can also transmit viral diseases. In addition, whiteflies secrete honeydew, which causes sooty mold, clogs the plant's stomata, and affects photosynthesis, and in severe cases the flowers cannot grow and develop normally. The control measures are as follows:

1. Timely control during the growing season When whiteflies occur during the growing season of flowers, promptly spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 10% buprofezin emulsifiable concentrate, which can inhibit adult egg-laying and nymph hatching. A 2000-fold dilution of 2.5% deltamethrin can also be sprayed, which has a good control effect on all stages of the insect. Spraying should preferably be done in the early morning or evening when adults are less active, first spraying the upper surface of the leaves, then the lower surface.

2. Yellow board trapping Use transparent wide adhesive tape, with the sticky side facing outward, fixed onto yellow cardboard or wooden boards, and hang them near the affected plants. This can trap and kill adult whiteflies and can also incidentally kill winged aphids. After they are fully covered, replace the tape.

3. Avoid cross-infection Near flower nurseries and greenhouses, avoid planting vegetables and crops that are susceptible to whiteflies, such as cucumber, eggplant, tomato, and kidney bean; cruciferous crops may be planted instead. Flowers susceptible to whiteflies should as far as possible not be placed together. The flower seedling nursery site should be chosen where there is no source of the insect, and when collecting scions and cuttings, select plants free of insect pests.

4. Carry out overwintering control well and reduce the insect population base In the north, before flowers are brought indoors in winter, first fumigate and disinfect the greenhouse by burning a mixture of sulfur, sawdust, and wheat straw. Then strictly inspect the potted flowers and do not bring whiteflies into the room. After whiteflies are found indoors, fumigation can be done with 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate. The dosage is 1 milliliter per cubic meter; the liquid can be sprinkled on dry grass or sawdust and ignited, and the doors and windows closed for fumigation for more than 4 hours.