Methods for combating white midges on cucumbers in greenhouses and open ground

Voracious white flies on the leaves of planted cucumbers will destroy a large portion of the harvest if left untreated. Identifying this dangerous pest is easy. The insect has two pairs of wings, the surface of which is covered with a pale yellow coating. Its favorite habitat is the underside of leaves. The insect's appearance is caused by gardener errors, such as poor seedling maintenance. Effective control methods rely on correcting these shortcomings.

What factors provoke the appearance of the pest?

High temperatures and high humidity are two negative factors that adversely affect the crispy vegetable. It's a mistake to think that the insect lives only in greenhouses, where a closed ecosystem exists. In open ground, white flies can make their presence known. Adults prefer plant sap—their favorite food. The more actively the pest satiates its hunger, the faster the plant dies.

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The second problem caused by the parasite's activity is the secretion it produces, or honeydew. Pathogenic fungi thrive in this secretion. Within 24-30 hours, the cucumber seedlings become infected, reducing yield. The third problem is that the midges use the leaves to lay their eggs. They are located along the inner surface. Less frequently, the eggs are visible on the stem or at the base.

Signs of winged pest activity

Early detection of midges minimizes potential damage to seedlings. The first and most obvious symptom is white spots on the leaf blade. If only eggs have settled on the bush, blurred white spots may be visible. Other symptoms include:

• the appearance of characteristic powdery mildew secreted by insects on the edges of the leaves;
• a sharp decrease in cucumber mass;
• leaves curl;
• signs of chlorosis disease appear, which is carried by midges;
• the buds dry out quickly;
• the ovaries and buds fall off.

Both swarms and single individuals of these insects are a concern. This pest is voracious. For it, leaves are a delicacy, readily consuming them in vast quantities. Within 2-4 days of the onset of the active phase, the leaf blades become covered in a sticky mass. This can be identified by touch. As soon as the midge matures, its body is covered in a sticky substance. This protects the insect from adverse environmental factors. However, it is destructive to seedlings. Burn marks are visible on the leaf blades.

Chemical means of control

The use of specialized chemicals is permitted in open ground and greenhouses in limited quantities. Violating the recommended proportions indicated on the packaging will cause more harm than the midges. Iskra Bio is formulated with components that have minimal impact on cucumber plants:

• It is allowed to process seedlings at the fruiting stage;
• safe for farm animals;
• safe for humans, but Iskra Bio can only be used with protective gloves;
• 72 hours after treatment, the crop does not contain any components of the preparation;
• application is carried out during the day at a temperature of + 25 C + 30 C.

Dissolve 40 ml of Iskra Bio in 5 liters of clean, warm water. Apply twice a week for one month. If symptoms disappear, continue applying the biologically active substance for another 3-4 days. Owners of large plots or commercial farms prepare solutions based on Aktara.

Dissolve 4 g of the product in 10 liters of water. Spray once every 5 days for 3 weeks. Another control method is "Mospilan." This broad-spectrum product is used at the initial stage of pest activity. Use one product per 2 liters of water. The application rate is 200 ml per 1 m².

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Folk methods of struggle

Botanists urge caution against jumping to conclusions. On the one hand, folk remedies for pest control have no side effects. Repeated treatments will not lead to the accumulation of toxins in the fruit. On the other hand, the effectiveness of folk remedies leaves much to be desired. At the initial stage of infestation, there's a good chance of ridding the leaves of the midges.

A classic folk remedy for midges is red pepper, which is used to make a tincture. Take 200 grams of tobacco dust and 10 liters of water. Mix the two ingredients. Here's how to proceed:

• add 30 g of capsicum;
• let the mixture sit for 24 hours;
• add 1 tablespoon of laundry soap;
• add 3 tablespoons of wood resin;
• mix thoroughly;
• Spraying is carried out once every 7 days for 3 weeks.

The second recommendation is as follows: fight the pest yourselfThis method involves using traps. Take a piece of light-colored cardboard and apply a non-drying decorative glue to it. If you don't have this, castor oil can be used. These traps are placed among the cucumber plantings. Each plant is gently shaken morning and evening. The gnats fly up and land on the cardboard surface. A garlic solution is a more radical remedy, according to folk recipes:

• 2 cloves of garlic;
• grind them to a pulp;
• add garlic to a bucket of water (1 l);
• the solution is left in a dark place for 24 hours;
• after 24 hours the mixture is filtered;
• Spraying of plantings is carried out 3 times a week;
• After a 1-week break, spraying is repeated.

Folk remedies shouldn't be considered a panacea. If the number of midges hasn't decreased within 5-6 days, you should turn to chemical treatments.

Preventive measures

Whiteflies, pests on cucumbers, appear when temperatures are consistently unfavorable. Installing a thermometer in the greenhouse is sufficient to prevent these pests from getting a foothold. Nighttime temperatures should be maintained between 17°C and 20°C, and daytime temperatures should not exceed 28°C. The second key is ventilation. In the greenhouse, the system ensures a uniform air flow but prevents drafts. The third key is regular preventative soil disinfection. Use Karbofos or Decis once every 4 weeks, according to the instructions. Other recommendations:

1. Punctuality – sowing dates must be adhered to. Everything depends on the characteristics of the cucumber variety chosen.
2. Quality – Seeds are purchased from a store. Do not plant them without first disinfecting them with a potassium permanganate solution.
3. Moisture level – before each watering, check the soil's moisture content. If it's damp, wait. Excessive watering, like under-watering, will weaken the plant.
4. Cleanliness – weeds, fallen leaves, and other debris are removed immediately. Biological debris, which can become a breeding ground for pests, should not be left in the garden bed.

The harvest concludes with a thorough cleaning of the greenhouse. If cucumbers were grown outdoors, the soil is dug over. The gardener's final recommendation is to cultivate the soil. Copper or iron sulfate are used.

The whitefly is a pest that feeds on the leaves of cucumber seedlings. Both adults and young plants are dangerous. The first symptoms are noticeable immediately after infestation. Characteristic white spots and dots on the leaves should alert gardeners. In the initial stages of infection, folk remedies can be used. Once the insect enters its active phase, chemical treatments are used.