Papaya (Carica papaya)

White Fly (Bemisia tabaci)

Symptoms

  • Both the adults and nymphs suck the plant sap and reduce the vigor of the plant. In severe infestations, the leaves turn yellow and drop off. When the populations are high they secrete large quantities of honeydew, which favors the growth of sooty mould on leaf surfaces and reduces the photosynthetic efficiency of the plants.

Management

  • Water sprays may also be useful in dislodging adults.
  • Plant tall border crops like maize, sorghum or millet to reduce white fly and aphid population.
  • Crop rotation with graminaceous crops
  • Natural enemies of whitefly
    • Parasitoids: Encarsia formosa, Eretmocerus spp., Chrysocharis pentheus
    • Predators: Dicyphus hesperus, Lacewing, Ladybird beetle, Big-eyed bugs (mirid bug)