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How to Control Whiteflies Naturally

Yellow Pest Strips

Especially useful in a greenhouse, this method of control takes advantage of the whitefly's preference for the color yellow as a method for which to find a suitable host plant.   

You can gauge where to focus your strongest control measures by placing a few test strips close to the plant and measuring which strips have captured the most whiteflies directly after noon when their activity is highest.  If you have a large area to cover, make sure your few test strips are widely dispersed as whiteflies do not gather and feed together so the problem may be more widespread than the few that you have already identified.

You can make your own pest strips by cutting strips of bright yellow poster board and covering them with a sticky substance such as petroleum jelly.

Vacuum Your Problems Away

A handheld vacuum can be used to vacuum up whiteflies.  You will need to use a vacuum with a bag that will contain the insects once captured.  Place the bag into an air-tight freezer bag, place them in the freezer, and freeze them for 24 hours.

Keep Weeds Away

Whiteflies will move on if there are no plants to feed on so keeping the garden area free of weeds when the season has ended is important in whitefly control.

Infestation Is Imminent

Be careful not to introduce a plant to your garden that is already infested with whiteflies.  They reproduce and spread very quickly.  Inspect all plants carefully before you purchase them.