Content
Pest control is the main guarantee of a good harvest. Therefore, experienced gardeners take preventive measures to prevent pests in greenhouses in the fall. Getting rid of whiteflies in a greenhouse in the fall is not difficult; there are several ways.
Whitefly: signs of appearance in a greenhouse
A greenhouse is a closed space. On the one hand, favorable conditions have been created here for the development of plants and the necessary microclimate is maintained. But, on the other hand, this same microclimate also contributes to the appearance of pests, in particular whiteflies. Under natural conditions, the whitefly lives in warm tropical climates. In our region, the insect prefers greenhouses, closed spaces, and parasitizes indoor plants.
Signs of a dangerous insect presence in a greenhouse:
- There are punctures and colorless holes on the leaves of the plants;
- dark spots in the form of necrosis are noticeable at the bottom of the leaf;
- Small white midges are visible on the underside of the leaf plate; if you shake the leaf, they fly up.
If one or more signs appear, pest control measures should be taken. It is important to destroy whiteflies in a greenhouse in the fall, because in the spring they will destroy the plantings and prevent the plants from developing. If you hang yellow traps with liquid glue, you can see the scale of the problem at the end of the day. A huge number of insects will fall into the “trap”.
Whitefly damage
This insect makes punctures in the leaves of plants and sucks out the juice from there. This weakens the plant. During its life, the whitefly releases sweet substances on which fungi that are dangerous to garden crops can develop. The insect is especially dangerous for tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and eggplants. This pest contributes to the development of dangerous diseases for plants. There are cases when yields fell to a minimum. The pest is capable of destroying everything that is planted in open and closed ground. One plant may have pests in different life stages. This makes the fight more difficult. The damage caused by the whitefly is difficult to calculate, since it can destroy entire plantations of cultivated plants.
Life cycle of an insect
The life cycle of an insect consists of three stages: egg, larva, and adult.
An adult insect is a small butterfly up to 3 mm in size. It appeared as a pest of protected soil, but has also found application in open garden plots. On one plant there are 3 stages of insect development. If the weather permits, it takes 18 days from the larval stage to the adult pest. In summer, whiteflies reproduce quickly: in 1 season, each individual lays up to 300 eggs.
In winter, the pest lives under the bark and in the remains of grass prepared for winter.
Do whiteflies die in a greenhouse in winter?
If frost does not reach the greenhouse, then the whitefly, eggs and pupae will calmly survive the winter. When the soil freezes, the pest pupae will die. Therefore, freezing of the room is used as a safety measure. This method of struggle is not suitable for residents of the southern regions.
How to get rid of whiteflies in a greenhouse in the fall: a set of measures
First of all, you need to remove weeds: often the pest enters the greenhouse with them. Many gardeners burn all the weed, destroying entire armies of insects harmful to cultivated plants. Then you should prepare the room for processing. Control methods can be chemical, biological, and the use of proven folk remedies is also justified. It is optimal to use an integrated approach to fight. In this case, you will be able to get rid of the insect in a short time and for a long time.
How to treat a greenhouse against whiteflies in the fall
Mechanical action does not help to completely destroy the pest, and therefore chemical agents cannot be avoided. Chemicals help remove large numbers of pests as quickly as possible, and also protect next year’s harvest. But they should be handled carefully, as they can harm the health of humans, pets and beneficial insects.
Getting rid of whiteflies in a greenhouse in winter is easier than doing it at other times of the year. This pest is afraid of frost, and therefore even regular ventilation will have a negative impact on the life of the butterfly and its larvae.
Preparing the greenhouse for processing
For effective processing, the greenhouse should be prepared.It is necessary to remove weeds, debris, as well as the remains of sick, whitefly-infested plants. General cleaning is carried out with cleaning of all surfaces. If there are gaps and cracks on the surfaces, clean and treat. It is recommended to whitewash wooden surfaces.
Experts recommend treating the greenhouse with a bleach solution to disinfect:
- 2 kg of lime;
- 10 liters of water;
- 100 g of copper sulfate.
If necessary, you should repair the greenhouse so as not to carry out repair work in a poisoned room. If a gardener wants to use traditional methods, for example, smoke, then all doors and windows in the greenhouse must be tightly closed.
The film or glass coating itself can be washed with soapy water. It is also necessary to dig up and loosen the soil before processing.
How to treat a greenhouse in the fall after whiteflies with chemicals
The fight against whiteflies in a greenhouse in the fall necessarily includes chemical treatment. These are the most effective and efficient methods of combating insects that can destroy crops.
The main substances for combating insects dangerous to the crop:
- Copper sulfate. If you are sure that there are pests in the ground, you need to use a dosage of 200 grams of vitriol per 10 liters of water.
- Potassium permanganate. A few grains per 10 liters of water. Treat the soil and the plants themselves. You can spray the leaves or wipe on the back of the plate.
- "Aktara" - a specialized drug that saves against whiteflies, but is used for watering seedlings.
To combat whitefly eggs in the fall, it is better to use hormonal drugs, for example “Admiral”. The integrated use of hormonal and chemical substances completely destroys the pest in all life cycles.
How to remove whiteflies from a greenhouse in winter using biological preparations
There are drugs that are not chemical because they do not harm plants, humans and animals. Biological preparations are based on living beneficial microflora.
At 100 m2 greenhouse areas are used:
- lepidocide - 30 ml per 10 liters of water;
- phytocide - 300 ml;
- bitoxybacillin - 100–150 ml.
You can soak the seeds in these preparations in the spring for additional disinfection.
The colonization of natural enemies of whiteflies is also used as a biological method. These include: ladybug, macrolophus bug, lacewing. But these insects do not live in winter, and therefore it is recommended to move them indoors in the spring, a few weeks before seedlings. With sufficient reproduction, the natural enemies of the whitefly can reduce the insect population several times.
How to fight whiteflies in a greenhouse in the fall using traditional methods
Traditional methods include freezing the greenhouse. Suitable for rooms located in northern regions where frosts occur early. It is necessary to open the doors and windows; it is possible to remove the film and leave it open overnight. This will help significantly reduce the pest population. The larvae in the ground will simply freeze.
The second method is tobacco smoke. You need to buy a couple of tobacco sticks or several packs of cheap unfiltered cigarettes. Close windows and doors, create smoke. It has a detrimental effect on pests at different stages of life.
The pest also does not like ash - adding it to the soil in the fall will have a beneficial effect on the harvest and reduce the number of white flies.
Prevention measures
To avoid poisoning the pest in the fall, you should be careful with greenhouse plantings and avoid the occurrence of dangerous conditions that will be favorable for whiteflies and other pests. Prevention measures:
- when planting, all seedlings must be examined carefully on both sides of the leaf;
- Do not overfeed the plant with nitrogen fertilizers;
- strictly observe the watering regime;
- remove all weeds in a timely manner, and also avoid cluttering the area with grass.
Correct agricultural technology is the first preventive measure. If the plant has a strong immune system, it will itself repel pests. Treating a greenhouse against whiteflies in the fall is another preventive measure that will help fight the pest and prevent it from destroying the crop.
Conclusion
Getting rid of whiteflies in a greenhouse in the fall is one of the mandatory measures to protect the future harvest from diseases and pests. If emergency measures are not taken, a small white butterfly can completely leave the greenhouse without a harvest. Pest control methods are complex and include treating the greenhouse with chemicals, biological preparations, as well as the use of popular folk remedies. With proper prevention, the pest will not be able to affect plants, and the population of harmful insects will be reduced.
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To smoke a greenhouse from whiteflies, an excellent option would be to use insecticidal bombs such as: “Quiet Evening”, “City” or “Samuro”. At one time they helped me very effectively against this pest. I recommend it to everyone!
Where are these checkers sold? Can't find them anywhere
How to deal with green plaque in a greenhouse? It is everywhere and even on the ground. Is this mold? How to get it out? The smell is unpleasant in the greenhouse.