Pest guide · Whitefly
Whitefly control: protect your crops naturally
Whiteflies drain sap, spread leaf-curl viruses and leave the honeydew that turns leaves black with sooty mold. Here is how to recognise an attack early and how EcoAgta EZ3+ helps control it.
What are whiteflies?
Whiteflies are tiny sap-sucking insects, about 1–2 mm long, with powdery white wings. They live in large numbers on the underside of leaves and fly up in a white cloud when the plant is shaken. Their young (nymphs) are flat, pale and scale-like, and stay fixed to the leaf while they feed.
In India the most damaging species are the silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) on vegetables, cotton and pulses, and the rugose spiraling whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus) on coconut, which lays its eggs in white waxy spirals and has spread across the coconut belts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
Whiteflies breed fast in warm, dry weather, so a light infestation can become a severe one within a few weeks.
Signs of a whitefly attack
- Clouds of tiny white insects fly up when you shake the plant
- White spiral or waxy patches on the underside of leaves (coconut)
- Sticky honeydew on leaves, fruit and the ground below
- Black sooty coating spreading over the leaves
- Yellowing, curling or crinkled leaves and stunted growth
Damage caused by whiteflies
Whitefly damage comes from three directions at once, which is why yields fall so quickly.
Sap loss
Adults and nymphs suck sap from the leaves, causing yellowing, leaf drop, weak growth and smaller fruit.
Sooty mold
Their honeydew grows a black sooty mold fungus that blocks sunlight, cuts photosynthesis and downgrades fruit and nuts.
Virus spread
Whiteflies carry viral diseases such as leaf curl in tomato and chilli and yellow mosaic in pulses from plant to plant.
Crops commonly attacked by whiteflies
- Coconut
- Guava
- Mango
- Tomato
- Chilli
- Brinjal
- Okra
- Cotton
- Pulses
- Citrus
- Papaya
- Tapioca
- Mulberry
EcoAgta EZ3+
How EcoAgta EZ3+ helps control whiteflies
EZ3+ is a triple-acting green-chemistry farm input. It works on the whitefly, on the sooty mold that follows it, and on the health of the plant — in one spray.
- Helps control and deter whiteflies, including rugose spiraling whitefly on coconut
- Helps prevent the sooty mold fungus that grows on whitefly honeydew
- Supports leaf recovery, photosynthesis and the plant's own immunity
- Also acts on other sap-sucking insects such as aphids, thrips and mealybugs
- Non-toxic, non-poisonous and readily biodegradable — made with IUPAC Green Chemistry principles
How to spray EZ3+ for whitefly control
- Tree & plantation crops — guava, mango, coconut, lemon, lime, tapioca
- 1:300 first spray, then 1:400
- Soft-leaf crops — tomato, chilli, cucumber, groundnut
- 1:400
- Tender compound-leaf plants
- 1:400
- 1:300 is about 3.3 mL of EZ3+ per litre of water; 1:400 is 2.5 mL per litre.
- Use fresh well or stream water. Non-chlorinated water is preferable.
- Pour the concentrate into a clean drum of water and mix well for 5 minutes.
- Spray between 6:00 and 10:30 AM, or between 3:30 and 6:30 PM.
- Cover every leaf and part of the plant, including the undersides of leaves where these pests feed.
- Spray when the pest is seen — about three times in a growing season.
Important information
Product performance varies with crop, climate, pest pressure and application practice. Always read the product label before use.
Farmers on whitefly control with EZ3+
Reports from farmers who used EcoAgta EZ3+, in their own words.
Whiteflies & Sooty Mold Fungus Controlled
EZ3+ completely repelled and controlled Spiraling Whiteflies from our coconut trees in a few days and completely removed the Sooty Mold Fungus (Capnodium) quickly improving the grade and quantity of the yield.
Mr. T. NaiduCoconut · Amaravathi, Thiruppur District, Tamil Nadu Eradicated Whiteflies & Reduced Fungus
After spraying EcoAgta EZ3+ in our mango and coconut farm twice in a year, we have completely eradicated whiteflies and other sap sucking insects. The problem of fungus during the fruit season has also reduced substantially. The fruits are much bigger and better.
Mr. T. R. ThyaharajanMango & Coconut · Shenbaga Thoppu, Srivilliputtur, Tamil Nadu Whiteflies & Mealybugs Completely Reduced
In my guava orchard, the infestation of whiteflies and mealybugs was very severe. After using EZ3+, pest infestation has now reduced to almost none. The plants are extremely healthy. The guavas are of high quality and look visually appealing. Because of this, traders are offering higher prices for my guavas. I have had a great experience using EZ3+!
Mr. T. SelvamGuava · Santhampadi, Natham
Whitefly control — frequently asked questions
How do I control whiteflies without toxic pesticides?
How do I control rugose spiraling whitefly on coconut trees?
Why do leaves turn black after a whitefly attack?
How soon will I see results?
Is EZ3+ safe for farm workers and animals?
What is the best time to spray for whiteflies?
Whiteflies on your crop?
Tell us your crop and the pest you are seeing. Our technical team will suggest a dose and spray schedule.