Flea shampoo for whiteflies in greenhouses: An effective control method

The whitefly is one of the most destructive pests for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants in covered greenhouses. It is quite difficult to eradicate due to its larvae hiding under the leaves and its ability to rapidly develop resistance to insecticides. To solve this problem, merely spraying pesticides is not enough; isolation, correct timing, and a detailed disinfection process must be applied together.

Flea shampoos produced for cats and dogs show a surprisingly high level of effectiveness in combating whiteflies. The animal shampoo is diluted with water and thoroughly applied, especially to the undersides of the leaves. Exactly three days after the first application, a second spraying is necessary to destroy the larvae hatching from new eggs, which prevents the pest population from rebounding.

After the harvest season ends, completely disinfecting the greenhouse is of great importance to prevent the pest from overwintering. All plant debris must be removed from the greenhouse and burned, the greenhouse structure must be washed with water, and fumigation must be performed using tobacco tablets that emit nicotine smoke. Ensuring continuous isolation and using yellow sticky traps guarantee the long-term success of this control effort.