Whitefly pressure remains high across South Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline.
High populations are reported on all crops in southwest Florida, though recent rainfall in some parts might help reduced levels. Jawad Qureshi, entomologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, also reports high numbers in the area.
Pressure was also unusually high in on green beans in the Everglades Agricultural Area. But populations should decrease following recent rains and since the bean season is almost over.
Whitefly numbers have also been high on cucumber on the east coast, but rains impacted pressure negatively.
Scouts are also reporting high levels of whiteflies on okra, peas, butter beans and eggplants in Homestead, Florida. Dak Seal, entomologist with the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, also reports high levels on beans, squash, eggplants, pepper and cabbage.
Early suppression of whitefly populations is key to successful management later in the season. Growers should be aggressive with systemic materials like Venom, Sivanto, Prime and Verimark early in the season.
Cultural controls are also effective. Fields should be kept weed free, as they could serve as hosts of whiteflies. Producers should also practice good sanitation and control of volunteer cucurbits and weeds to avoid carry-over to spring crops. UV-reflective mulches help repel migrating whiteflies in the first few weeks and can help delay the introduction of viruses associated with whiteflies.