NACAA

CONTROL OF WHITEFLY ON ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN ARIZONA

Abstract:

Sweetpotato Whitefly, (Bemisia tabaci) is a major pest of both ornamental and agricultural crops in Arizona. They cause injury such as leaf curl, sooty mold as well as transmit viruses that cause plant death. A recent whitefly dispersal study, conducted in Yuma County, reemphasized that whiteflies are considered major pests between June and October. A comparison of populations between the City of Yuma and surrounding agricultural areas found that agriculture in the western regions of Yuma influenced whitefly populations immediately adjacent to the city. This interaction in urban whitefly dispersal leads to questions about their management. In February and March of 2010 a statewide survey was administered to Arizona home gardeners to determine which whitefly control products are in use. Two hundred and seventy nine people, mostly homeowners, responded to the survey. Sixty seven percent indicated that they do have whitefly problems. Eighty two percent of these indicated the worst problems were on garden and landscape plants. Over sixty five percent responded that they do nothing to control whiteflies. Only six percent used pesticides and of those that used pesticides, ten percent used products such as malathion, ortho, spectracide and sevin. Fourteen percent used biorational products like garden safe, pyrethrins and Bacillus thuringiensis. These results show that whiteflies are a major pest and the majority of homeowners do not manage them effectively.