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Whiteflies are tiny creatures that infest homes looking for plants. While they don't present any danger to people, they can cause irreparable damage to your favorite plants by sucking essential nutrients from them. Knowing how to identify and remove these pests will protect these items.
The sizes of these pests make them hard to see, especially when they're around similar-colored objects. Fortunately, West Palm Beach pest control professionals have the knowledge and tools to find these pests and get them out of your home. Keep reading to learn more about whiteflies and how they can impact you.
How To Identify Whiteflies
Despite their name, whiteflies aren't flies. The name comes from their tiny size and color. These pests are approximately 1/16 of an inch long. Nymphs vary in color depending on the species, but adults have white bodies and white wax-covered wings, contributing to their name.
These pests thrive in warm weather, growing in population quickly. Colonies can develop on the bottom of leaves, providing food and shelter. South Florida's warm climate enables these pests to reproduce year-round, making them a common nuisance.
Many pests around your home are nocturnal, remaining unseen during the day. Since whiteflies are active during daytime hours, you might notice a whitefly infestation easier than others.
The Problems Whiteflies Can Create Around Your Home
Whiteflies don't cause damage or spread illnesses to people but are harmful to plants. They use their needle-looking mouthparts to remove sap from the phloem, a tissue that provides food for plant leaves and stems. They often infest gardens, where they damage various flowers and vegetables. Signs of whitefly damage include:
- Stunting
- Foliage yellowing
- Premature leaf drop
Additionally, their waste contains honeydew, a sugar that appears as a sticky substance. Honeydew left on leaves can result in an unsightly appearance and promote the growth of fungi. Calling dependable pest control professionals about whiteflies from around your plants will help you avoid these problems.
Factors That Attract Whiteflies
Whiteflies typically invade properties that provide the best conditions. Knowing their attractants will help you perform whitefly control around your home. Common attractants for these pests include:
- High temperatures: Whiteflies thrive in warm climates.
- Plant drought stress: Residents often overwater plants drawing these pests.
- Insecticide: Some of these products will eliminate the predators of whiteflies, providing a safe place for them to invade.
As you can see, South Florida's climate provides these attractants, making West Palm Beach yards the ideal place to live, feed, and reproduce. Since it's warm year-round, you'll need professionals to get rid of whiteflies on your property.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of A Whitefly Infestation
Whiteflies are hard to find and eliminate when they invade West Palm Beach homes. So how do you get rid of whiteflies? The best option is to prevent them from entering in the first place. Introducing infected plants is a common way whiteflies get onto properties, so inspecting plants before buying them can help to prevent these pests. If they infest your plants, you'll need help with professional whitefly control.
When you call Empire Pest Defense to handle your whitefly problem, our technicians will inspect your landscaping to find the pests, primarily focusing on palm trees and ficus hedges. For the latter, we'll place granules that enter the plant after our initial treatment. We'll then spray the plant to remove the creatures. Call us for a free estimate on our whitefly control services.