Whitefly

When to act: pest threshold levels

Economic threshold levels given for cotton: thrips – 50 nymphs or adults per 50 leaves; aphids – 15% of plants infested; leafhopper – 50 nymphs or adults per 50 leaves; mite – 10 per cm² of leaf; spotted and spiny bollworms – 10% of shoots, squares or bolls infested; pink bollworm – 10% of fruiting parts infested; Helicoverpa (American bollworm) – one egg or one larva per plant; whiteflies – 5–10 per leaf; stem weevil – 10% infestation; tobacco cutworm – 8 egg masses per 100 m row.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cotton – Economic threshold levels, p. 272

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Whitefly, leaf curl and spotted wilt

Whitefly spreads leaf curl virus: install yellow sticky traps at 12 per hectare and remove the alternate weed host Abutilon indicum. For tomato spotted wilt, select healthy seedlings for transplanting and rogue out infected plants up to 45 days after planting.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Tomato – Plant protection (Whitefly, leaf curl, spotted wilt), pp. 60–62

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Powdery mildew, rust and yellow mosaic: non-chemical measures

Powdery mildew: spray NSKE 5% or neem oil 3% twice at a 10-day interval from the first symptoms. Rust: spray 10% eucalyptus leaf extract when the disease starts and 10 days later. Yellow mosaic (spread by whitefly): install yellow sticky traps at 12 per hectare, rogue out virus-infected plants up to 45 days, and spray 10% notchi leaf extract at 30 days or a neem formulation at 3 ml per litre.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Greengram – Disease management (Powdery mildew, rust, yellow mosaic), pp. 149–150

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Chemical pesticides: ask before you spray

The source lists insecticides and fungicides for stem fly, aphids, whitefly, pod borers, rust, leaf spot and leaf curl. Many are hazardous, and some may be restricted. Choose a product only with your local Agriculture Officer, and spray only after the pest crosses the threshold level.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Greengram – Pest & disease management, pp. 148–150

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Chemical pesticides: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical pesticides for stem fly, aphids, whitefly, blue butterflies, spotted pod borer, pod bug and rust. Many are hazardous, and some may be restricted. Choose a product only with your local Agriculture Officer, and spray only after the pest crosses the threshold level.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cowpea – Pest & disease management, pp. 155–156

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Caterpillars and yellow mosaic

For caterpillars (Spodoptera, Helicoverpa, semilooper and others), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki at 500–750 g per hectare is listed as a biological option. For yellow mosaic virus (spread by whitefly), rogue out infected plants up to 30 days after sowing.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Soyabean – Crop protection, p. 177

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Shoot and fruit borer, whitefly and beetles: IPM

Shoot and fruit borer: clip and destroy affected shoot tips with bore holes and affected fruits; avoid synthetic pyrethroids; spray neem seed kernel extract 5% from one month after planting at 15-day intervals; monitor moths with pheromone traps and release Trichogramma after each brood. Whitefly: yellow sticky traps at 12 per hectare, neem oil 3% with teepol 1 ml/l, and maize as a border crop. Epilachna beetle: collect and destroy beetles, grubs and pupae. Aphids: release green lacewing larvae (Chrysoperla) at 10,000 per hectare. Apply neem cake at 250 kg/ha.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Brinjal – Pests; IPM package, pp. 65–67

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Chemical pesticides: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical sprays for epilachna beetle, whitefly, shoot and fruit borer, mites and leaf spot. Many are hazardous, and some may be restricted. Vegetables are eaten fresh, so choose any product only with your local Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Brinjal – Plant protection, pp. 64–66

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Fruit borers, whitefly and yellow vein mosaic: IPM

Set up pheromone traps at 12 per hectare and collect and destroy affected fruits. Release the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis at 1.0 lakh per hectare, green lacewing larvae at 10,000 per hectare, and Chelonus blackburnii and Bracon brevicornis at 1000 adults each per hectare three times at fortnightly intervals from flower initiation. Spray Bacillus thuringiensis at 2 g/l. Grow maize as a border crop against whiteflies, use yellow sticky traps, and periodically remove yellow vein mosaic–infected plants. Apply neem cake at 250 kg/ha and neem formulations.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Bhendi – IPM; IPM package, pp. 71–72

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Chemical pesticides: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical sprays for fruit borers, leafhopper, aphids, mites, whiteflies, powdery mildew and nematodes. Many are hazardous, and some may be restricted. Vegetables are eaten fresh, so choose any product only with your local Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Bhendi – Plant protection, pp. 70–71

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Pests and diseases: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical sprays for aphids, jassids, fruit borers and caterpillars, red spider mite, powdery mildew and downy mildew, and lists red pumpkin beetle, leaf miner, thrips, whitefly and pumpkin caterpillar among the pests. Choose any product only with your local Horticulture or Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Pumpkin – Plant protection, p. 83

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Pests and diseases: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical treatments for leafhoppers, aphids, whitefly, ash weevils, leaf spot and powdery mildew (neem-based azadirachtin is listed for ash weevils). Choose any product only with your local Horticulture or Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cluster bean – Plant protection, pp. 107–108

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05

Whitefly trap

Place 20 yellow sticky traps coated with castor oil on polythene sheets to attract whiteflies. For anthracnose in pole beans, remove affected plants and pods.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), French bean – Plant protection (whitefly), pp. 111–113

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05

Whitefly and mosaic: non-chemical measures in the source

Mosaic spreads through whitefly. Take planting material only from healthy plants; remove the weed host Abutilon indicum; set yellow sticky traps (12/ha); use nitrogen carefully; avoid excess irrigation; do not keep the crop beyond its duration. Neem oil 3% is also listed. Papaya mealybug: release the parasitoid Acerophagus papayae (100 per acre). Tuber rot: avoid waterlogging and provide drainage; Trichoderma asperellum 2.5 kg/ha at planting and at the 3rd and 6th months.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Tapioca – Plant protection (whitefly, mosaic, mealybug, tuber rot), pp. 141–142

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Pests and diseases: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical treatments for whitefly, mosaic vectors, Cercospora leaf spot and tuber rot. Choose any product only with your local Horticulture or Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Tapioca – Plant protection, pp. 141–142

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Fruit fly: non-chemical measures in the source

Collect and destroy affected fruits. Fruit flies are fewest in hot weather and peak in the rainy season, so adjust the sowing time. Plough to expose the pupae. Set cucurbit fruit-fly traps at 4 per acre. Neem oil 3% is also listed. Do not use copper or sulphur dust on melons — they damage the plants. Whitefly: neem seed kernel extract 5%.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Muskmelon – Plant protection, p. 105

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05