Whitefly Pests

Disturb an infested plant and they rise like a tiny snowstorm — whiteflies are unmistakable, and left alone they drain sap, coat leaves in sticky honeydew, and spread viruses. Here's how to spot whitefly damage and exactly how to get rid of whiteflies naturally.

Whiteflies are sap-sucking insects that cluster on the undersides of leaves and breed nonstop in warm, protected conditions. The two that plague growers most — greenhouse and sweetpotato (silverleaf) whitefly — both respond beautifully to biological control once you catch them early.

How to identify whiteflies

Check leaf undersides for 1–2 mm white, moth-like adults and pale oval nymphs (scales). Tell-tale signs include yellowing, stunting, a shiny honeydew film, black sooty mold growing on that honeydew, and clouds of flies when you brush the canopy.

Why whiteflies get out of hand

They reproduce continuously, and their eggs and nymphs sit protected on the leaf undersides where contact sprays rarely reach — so populations rebound within days and quickly develop insecticide resistance. Knock them back with chemicals alone and they always come roaring back.

How to get rid of whiteflies naturally

Monitor with yellow sticky traps, strip out the most infested lower leaves, and introduce parasitic wasps and predators early, before numbers climb. Biologicals reach the leaf undersides and parasitize nymphs continuously, breaking the breeding cycle for good — with no residue and no resistance.

Beneficials that stop whitefly

This collection has the proven, ready-to-release solutions:

• ENCARSIAforce (Encarsia formosa) — parasitizes greenhouse whitefly nymphs; parasitized scales turn black and breed more wasps instead of more whitefly.
• ERETforce (Eretmocerus eremicus) — heat-tolerant wasp for warmer houses and sweetpotato whitefly; ENCAR/ERETforce combines both for mixed infestations.
• AMBLYforce S predatory mites to eat whitefly eggs and young nymphs, plus CHRYSOforce R lacewings and SuffOil-X for knockdown.

Ready to build a program? Shop the full Whitefly Control collection.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get rid of whiteflies permanently?

Combine sanitation and sticky-trap monitoring with sustained releases of parasitic wasps and predatory mites — ongoing biological pressure prevents the rebound that sprays cause.

What is the main cause of whiteflies?

Warm, sheltered conditions, infested transplants, and continuous host plants let whitefly populations build rapidly indoors and in greenhouses.

What kills whiteflies naturally?

Encarsia and Eretmocerus parasitic wasps, swirskii predatory mites, and lacewings all kill whitefly without chemicals; horticultural oil helps with heavy numbers.

Do whiteflies go away on their own?

Not in warm indoor conditions — without intervention they keep breeding on the leaf undersides year-round.

Does soapy water kill whiteflies?

Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil can knock down adults and nymphs on contact, but won't reach protected eggs — pair it with parasitic wasps for lasting control.