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B. Loehr
Is this a Minor Pest?
Yes
Minor Pest Title
Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci)
Minor Pest Description
They suck plant sap and excrete honeydew where moulds grow, which may affect plant growth and vigour. The tobacco whitefly is considered a major pest due to its ability to vector various virus diseases, which cause considerable damage to watermelons and other cucurbits.
Minor Pest What to do.
- Conserve natural enemies. Parasitic wasps are important in natural control of whiteflies
- Use reflective mulches. Reflective mulch repels whitefly adults resulting in delayed and reduced attack by this pest with consequent reduction in damage as shown in experiments in USA. (Summers & Stapleton 2002)
- Whenever necessary spray crop with neem products. Neem-based pesticides are reported to inhibit growth and development of immature stages, and to reduce egg laying by adult whiteflies
Minor Pest Position
3
Minor Pest Firstcontent
703
Pest Type
insect
Host Plants
Watermelon
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