Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: HilaryG on September 11, 2009, 20:32

Title: tiny white moths/butterflies?
Post by: HilaryG on September 11, 2009, 20:32

I have clouds of tiny white butterflies? all over my brassica, esp the redbor kale. What are they? Do I need to take action? They don't appear to be doing any harm at the moment!  Thanks

Title: Re: tiny white moths/butterflies?
Post by: DD. on September 11, 2009, 20:39

Whitefly.

More of a nuisance than anything.

They secret a sweet substance called honeydew on which grows a sooty mold.

You can spray them, hoover them off, or wait for a good frost.

Just wash your produce in salty water first, that'll get rid of hangers on.

Title: Re: tiny white moths/butterflies?
Post by: 8doubles on September 11, 2009, 20:44

Sounds like whitefly which can be a curse on kale,  you end up with more fly than veg. A pain to get rid of as they lurk under the leaves.

Title: Re: tiny white moths/butterflies?
Post by: pushrod on September 11, 2009, 20:50

I think that spraying with soapy water kills the adults. Can always blast them with a water spray to dislodge them and try and wash off the "honeydew" DD mentioned.

Title: Re: tiny white moths/butterflies?
Post by: peterjf on September 11, 2009, 23:50

soapy water or spray with bug off