Question
I have white flies infesting the plants on my balcony recently and want to get rid of them, but I have a cat which sometimes comes in contact with the plants (although he hasn't eaten anything yet). They are cat friendly.

What is the best thing to use which is safe for the cat but gets rid of these white flies? They are killing the plants! I have tried Organocide which didn't work, smelled bad, and just made the leaves sticky.

Thanks,
Todd

Answer
Todd,

Whiteflies are related to aphids and scale insects (Homoptera) and feed on plant sap. The stage that feeds looks like a scale insect and like scales can be difficult to control. The trick is to be persistent. It does not matter so much what you use but rather that you apply control regularly. I use insecticidal soap for any of the soft-bodied insects and mites like aphids, whiteflies and spider mites. Insecticidal soap is very safe and can be used frequently. See http://www.livingwithbugs.com/insecticidal_soap.html for information about insecticidal soap. Treat with insecticidal soap every couple of days until adults disappear then use it once a week until the weather gets cold. You'll probably need a small sprayer as well.

Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com