If small white insects fly up when you touch the indoor or potted plants, you could immediately think it is a moth infestation. As a rule, however, it is whitefly.
White moths on plants are almost always whitefly
The whitefly
It is a very small flying insect with white, powdered wings, which at first glance can easily be mistaken for a moth and is also known as the "white fly".
The common moth does not usually show up in potting soil, since this soil usually contains peat and moths do not like peat. However, if the potting soil contains compost, moths can appear. However, this is very rare, since all pests, their eggs and larvae are killed during hot rotting in the compost.
The white flies under the plant leaves, on and in the potting soil are therefore actually whitefly. They feed on plant sap and can do a lot of damage. Clear signs of a longer infestation are yellowish-brown spots on the leaves.
Control of the whitefly
Instead of working with chemicals, you should try to fight vermin with natural or household remedies.
The easiest way is to soak the pots in a bucket of water for 30 minutes. The animals drown and swim to the surface of the water, from where they can be easily cast off.
Repotting is also a good way to get rid of the pesky animals. However, care must be taken to ensure that the entire old soil, including that between the roots, is renewed.
Yellow boards attract the harmful insects and they get stuck on the sticky surface.
predators
Whiteflies feel most comfortable where no predators lurk. Anyone who pays attention to biodiversity in their garden offers many beneficial insects a habitat, which then takes care of the moth problem. Natural predators of the whitefly are:
- many species of spiders
- ladybug
- lacewing larvae
- parasitic wasps
- assassin bugs
Fight whitefly with plants
If the animals appear in planters or in beds, certain plants can be cultivated between the flowers, which keep moths away with their smell. Are suitable:
- Basil (spraying with basil broth also helps)
- fire bush
- Nasturtium
- thyme
- zinnias