Once you notice your plants getting covered by white snow-like particles, especially on their leaves and buds, you are likely under white bug attack. These bugs will always leave white or yellow spots on the infected parts of the plant and cause those parts, usually the leaves and buds, to wither. If these pests are not controlled, they could cause serious damage to your plants and cost you a lot of money.
If you are in Summerville and the infestation is beyond what you can handle, contacting professionals like Team Veterans Pest Control in Charleston is a good option. They serve all of Summerville and have the expertise to resolve your pest problems.
White Bug on Plant
White bugs are one of the deadliest pests of plants. As such, you must find ways to get rid of them once you notice their presence. Leaving them on your plants and hoping nature will run its course or the plants will get rid of these pests on their own is not a sustainable strategy, especially if you are growing your plants or flowers for profits.
Meanwhile, listed below are some of the most common white bugs found around.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies are small triangular winged bugs with soft body insects with wings. Their appearance and mode of operation are similar to mealybugs in many ways. These insects suck nutrients from plants, leaving them yellow and frail. Whiteflies travel in groups making their infestation more deadly. One important thing to note about these insects is that they don’t belong to the fly family despite their name and ability to fly.
Mealybugs
So once you notice a white fuzzy mess on your plants, the likely culprits are Mealybugs around the leaves and stems. This insect is considered the most popular white bug pest. Mealybugs are mobile, minuscule, and lightly colored insects with soft bodies. Compared to other classes of white bugs, the damage caused by Mealybugs is usually deadly and enough to kill the entire plant.
Aphids
Aphids can also be pink, black, and green. These are small oval-shaped bugs. Unlike other insects in the white bug class, they are slow, and some don’t even have wings. Their slow nature makes them easy to get rid of compared to other bugs.
Aphids feed on the plant nutrients, draining them till the last drop of nutrients is gone. To effectively control Aphid infestation, you have to control their population. This is mainly because aphids reproduce quickly. So if immediate action is not taken, it becomes difficult to control them.
How Do I Get Rid of Bugs on Plants?
To effectively get rid of white bugs, you must ensure that the right treatment method is employed. You may need to carry out this treatment repeatedly to ensure the infestation is completely controlled. Here are some of the methods you can apply to get rid of bugs in your plants.
Use the Hose Against them
Using water against bugs is very effective for smaller infestations, as water pressure helps wash away the bugs and their eggs. This is because this method won’t remove all the bugs immediately. You will have to do it a few times for it to be effective.
Insecticidal soap
Another common treatment method for white bugs on plants is the use of insecticidal soap. If you plan on using insecticidal soap, you must strictly follow the instructions on the label. If you don’t know how to apply it, you should contact a professional.
Use a Yellow Sticky Trap
For light infestation, using yellow sticky traps could do the trick. The fact that some of these plant bugs are easily attracted to color makes it more efficient. When making your sticky trap, ensure it is properly prepared. It would be best if you also prevent children or pets from getting close to it.
Use Rubbing Alcohol
For smaller infestations, using rubbing alcohol is quite effective. To do this, you will need to wipe down the plants with cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol. Since the bugs will only be killed when they come in direct contact with alcohol, you may need to apply it a few times and must ensure every inch of the plant is wiped down. Once the infestation has reduced significantly, you can wipe off the alcohol with water.
Destroy Affected Plants
Most of these white bugs move around rapidly and lay their eggs everywhere they go. If there’s an infestation on one plant, it will spread to other plants around it in no time. If the infestation is out of control, the best solution is to destroy the infected plants. This will help prevent further damage.
Contact a Professional
The best way to get rid of bugs on your plants is to contact a professional. These professions have the needed knowledge and expertise to help get rid of bugs on your plants effectively. They will use methods that won’t be detrimental to your plants and ensure you are satisfied.