What to do if there are white midges on tomatoes and how to deal with them: the most effective methods

Tomato beds often attract pests... The most dangerous of them is the whitefly - it sucks out the sap of the plant, which leads to its drying out and death. Both adult moths and larvae are pests.

What to do if there are white midges on tomatoes, how to deal with them, and what measures can help protect the crop from pests - you will learn all this from our article.

Why does a white midge appear on tomatoes, and how to eliminate it

Whiteflies often infect tomatoes grown in greenhouses or greenhouses. Insects appear when it rains frequently. The moth looks like an ordinary midge, only white. The pest most often appears in the middle of summer under favorable conditions - high humidity and high air temperatures.

The gardener may not immediately recognize that pests have appeared on his site - whiteflies choose the lower leaves of the plant for residence or hide on their inner side.

It is possible to save the entire crop from white midges if the plants contain only moths without larvae. The fight against small pests must be approached comprehensively.

The most common ways are:

• fumigation;
• chemical treatment;
• biological products;
• bait.

Signs of infection

It is easy to recognize damage to plants by such external signs:

• yellowing and curling of leaves;
• uneven ripening of fruits;
• discoloration of the internal tissues of tomatoes;
• the formation of plaque on the upper leaves;
• finding insects on the inside of the leaf;
• when you touch the plant, a cloud of midges rises.

What pests they can be

Many insects can parasitize on nightshades. There are two types of midges living on tomatoes: some pests are black and are constantly in motion, without settling the plant. Other midges are white, they settle on the leaves of seedlings.

The most dangerous pest is the greenhouse whitefly. Her body size is 3 mm. The insect prefers to inhabit the inner part of the lower leaves of the seedlings, where it lays its eggs.

The whitefly carries viral diseases such as curly foliage, chlorosis and jaundice. If you do not take action in time, this can affect the growth, flowering of the plant, its leaves and fruits.

The moths themselves are not so dangerous - they can be easily eliminated with folk or chemical means. However, it is not so easy to cope with insect larvae - they have protection in the form of a special plaque, which reduces the effectiveness of drugs. In addition, if you use the same products, insects can develop immunity to them.

What harm they can do

White midges are the most dangerous pests of nightshades. Despite their small size, the damage from them can be colossal. As soon as the midges or their larvae have attached to the plant, they begin to consume its juice. Because of this seedling begins to experience a lack of nutrients, which affects its fruits. As a result, the green mass of the plant dries up and falls off, and the fruits shrivel.

The vital activity of small midges leads to the formation of plaque on the upper part of the leaf, which can cause it to curl. Initially, it has a transparent color, which later turns black, indicating the formation of sooty fungi. Parasites emerge from insect secretions. They cover the stem of the plant and the fruit.

Types of insect control

It is important to consider that not all control methods are effective at all stages of insect development. Plaque, which forms on the leaves as a result of the vital activity of midges, is a barrier against chemical and biological agents. Therefore, for the rapid destruction of pests, an integrated approach must be used.

Chemical control methods

Manufacturers produce a large number of pest control products every year. Before buying the product, you need to study the instructions in order to properly process the plant. Some drugs can be sprayed once, others need to be used regularly.

It is important to choose a drug suitable for a particular stage of insect development. So, moth remedies will not help get rid of larvae and pupae. Spraying is ineffective in the fight against adults, they can fly from plant to plant.

Types of chemicals against whitefly:

• systemic insecticides - the drug penetrates into the plant sap and poisons insects;
• contact insecticides - act upon direct contact of the pest with the treated plant.

Important! Systemic drugs should not be used during the harvest season. The last treatment should be no later than 25-30 days before harvesting the fruits.

The most effective drugs against white midges are:

• "Pegasus";
• "Fufanon";
• "Confidor Extra";
• "Aktara";
• Mospilan;
• "Decis-Profi";
• "Fosbecid";
• Actellik.

Processing rules

So:

1. The procedure is carried out on a warm, windless day.
2. The chemicals are applied with a spray bottle.
3. After processing, you need to put the plants in the shade or put a canopy over them to avoid burns.
4. Alternate medications regularly.
5. Use a product suitable for the particular stage of insect development.

Important! Do not use strong chemicals right away, poisonous compounds can accumulate in the soil and poison plants.

Biological preparations

The essence of biological agents is the use of living microorganisms that can resist the action of pests. In the case of the whitefly, manufacturers produce insect preparations that can eat white midge larvae.

A cardboard box with a biological agent is hung on the tomato bushes. After a while, microorganisms begin to spread throughout the plant, destroying the larvae and pupae of the whitefly.

Fitoverm is considered to be the most effective biological preparation, after its use it is possible to harvest in two days. The product contains compounds that quickly decompose in the soil, they do not harm the plant.

Folk proven methods

Experienced summer residents note that folk remedies can effectively fight pests without developing resistance in them.

These methods include:

1. Cold. Moths do not like low temperatures, so you need to take out the seedlings from time to time to fresh air. The method is suitable only for cold-resistant varieties, the pest will die only when the temperature drops to + 10C.
2. Insect traps. Glue baits that can be made at home are especially effective - a sheet of plywood is painted yellow and abundantly lubricated with glue, petroleum jelly, oil or honey. The bait is placed near the affected plants. You can also hang up regular anti-fly tape.
3. Infusion of yarrow.Pour 1 kg of plant leaves with a bucket of water and leave for two days in a warm place. Then the infusion is filtered. It is used for spraying. The procedure is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 7 days.
4. Dandelion decoction - Pour 1 kg of fresh flowers with 1 bucket of water, add 1 tbsp. washing powder. The mixture is infused for a day, then filtered. Suitable for treating bush and soil.
5. Soap products - used with a large number of insects, as well as in cases where the use of chemistry is undesirable. To process the leaves, you can use laundry soap - chop 1 bar and dilute in water in a ratio of 1: 6. Before applying to the leaves, you need to beat the foam, you can also spray the bushes with the solution. The product does not require rinsing.
6. Infusion of garlic - chop 10 cloves and pour 5 liters of water, set aside overnight in a warm place. Before use, the infusion must be filtered.
7. Water - used to wipe leaves. Effective against adult insects.

Fumigation of greenhouses

The procedure must be carried out twice a year - before planting seedlings and after harvesting. Before fumigation, you need to close the vents and doors, and also plug all the cracks.

Sulfur candles can be used in fumigation, but they are only suitable if the room is located away from residential buildings. Before carrying out the procedure, you need to remove all tomatoes from the greenhouse.

You can use smoke bombs with insecticides in those greenhouses that are near the house. In this case, you can leave the seedlings in the greenhouse. The tool will help to kill not only adults, but also larvae, and will also protect against various diseases.

To carry out the smoke control method, you can use tobacco. A sheet of iron should be put on the ground, on top of which a newspaper, chips andtobacco... Before the procedure, you need to lubricate the glass of the greenhouse with Vaseline. After the fire is lit, the disturbed insects will rush to the windows and stick to them.

What herbs will tomatoes save?

By sowing the right herbs in an area with tomato beds, you can forget about pests forever. Such herbs include dill - it attracts insects that feed on midges. It can be planted between the beds.

Experienced summer residents often plant tobacco along the perimeter of the site. Although this plant will not scare off whiteflies, it will take the brunt of it. Most of the insects will start settling in tobacco bushes, which will give the grower time to start pest control.

Techniques of mechanical methods

The fight against whiteflies in the greenhouse is also carried out using the use of light and natural enemies of midges. You can also catch adults with a vacuum cleaner.

Whiteflies, like other moths, are attracted to light. One person enters the greenhouse and begins to shake the bushes, while another stands at the exit and holds a blown-on blowtorch in his hands. This procedure can be performed every 2-3 days.

During the day, you can spread the pieces of foil between the beds. The sun's rays will reflect off the foil and fall on the lower leaves of the tomatoes on which the insects live.

The enemies of white midges are ladybugs and goldflies. If you attract these insects to the site, you can quickly fix the problem. You can also populate the pupae of the encarsia wasp and the macrolophus bug in the greenhouse.

The nuances of getting rid of midges

The conditions for growing tomatoes in the open field and in the greenhouse are significantly different. Midges can start both in closed and open beds. In the fight against a pest, it is important to consider some features.

In the open field

Whitefly can also affect seedlings grown outdoors. Often, to preserve the harvest, summer residents use folk remedies. These include herbs, soap, garlic, or ash. The use of ammonia is also effective - dilute 50 ml of the product in a bucket of water.

You can add a little liquid soap to the solution. The product is used for spraying, the procedure is carried out 1 time in 3 days until the complete destruction of the pest.

How to get rid of gnats on tomatoes in a greenhouse

To destroy whiteflies in a greenhouse, you can use not only checkers against insects, but also ordinary fumigators and spirals. Before turning on the device, you need to close the vents and doors. For this period, it is better to leave the premises. Fly tape can be placed throughout the greenhouse.

It is known that midges do not like the cold, so at night you can open the vents for ventilation.

After treating the plants with chemicals, you need to create a shade. To do this, you can cover the greenhouse roof with a dark, dense cloth.

Compost should not be stored indoors as it attracts insects. It is best to store it in a box on site, away from greenhouses and greenhouses.

For processing plants indoors, you can use bleach - dilute 0.5 kg of the substance in 12 liters of water, leave for 2-3 hours. The product is used for spraying on the beds.

In the fight against midges, you can use a mixture of dry tobacco and ash. The components are mixed and used for soil cultivation.

Seedling protection

You can protect seedlings from whiteflies if you carry out pre-planting soil treatment with insecticides. It is also important to keep a distance during planting, as insects like thickened beds due to disturbed air circulation and moisture evaporation.

Tomatoes cannot be planted in the same place year after year. Moth larvae can be in the ground, so you need to follow the planting scheme - tomatoes can be returned to the previous bed only after 3-4 seasons.

Pest prevention

The white midge is an insect that is difficult to get rid of. You can fight it for a long time, which will negatively affect the seedlings and the harvest. The use of chemicals is not always appropriate, especially if the gardener wants to get an environmentally friendly product. It is better to prevent a problem from occurring than to try to fix it later.

Preventive measures:

1. Ventilate the greenhouse regularly, even during winter.
2. Disinfect structures.
3. Monitor the cleanliness of the site - remove plant residues and weeds in a timely manner.
4. To constantly dig up the ground.
5. Do not store compost in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

Conclusion

Insect larvae can be in the ground, so it is important to process not only the bush, but also the soil next to it. To do this, you can use Bazudin granules with a validity period of 6 weeks - you need to dig in the product. "Thunder-2" has a longer effect, it protects plants from pests for up to two months.

In order for the granules of the preparations to be evenly distributed in the soil, they must be mixed with coarse dry sand. The agent is applied to a depth of 2 cm, and then sprinkled with a layer of soil. After using the preparations, do not water the plants immediately.

Compliance with prevention and creation of conditions for plant growth are not always protection from pests. You need to get rid of white midges, otherwise you can lose the entire crop. It is better to use an integrated approach in the fight against insects - to combine traditional methods with biological and chemical preparations.