a close up picture of two whiteflies on a green leaf

Whiteflies on Houseplants: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Them

Whiteflies on Houseplants: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Them

Whiteflies are persistent, sap-sucking pests that reproduce rapidly and spread diseases. They feed on plant sap, leaving sticky honeydew that attracts sooty mold and causes yellowing, stunted growth, and even plant death. In greenhouses and indoor plant collections, they’re one of the most common and frustrating pests.

Identification & Lifecycle

Life stages: Egg → nymph (crawler) → pupal stage → adult.

  • Eggs: Laid on the undersides of leaves, often in clusters.

  • Nymphs: Settle into the leaf surface, feeding on sap and forming waxy pupae.

  • Adults: Small, moth-like insects that fly up when plants are disturbed.

Damage symptoms: Yellowing leaves, sticky honeydew, black sooty mold, stunted growth, and in severe cases, virus transmission such as Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus.

close up of whiteflies and whiteflies larvae on a green leave

Ecology & Spread

Whiteflies likely originated in tropical and subtropical regions but are now global pests. Indoors, infestations commonly spread through:

  • New plants or cuttings

  • Plant debris or contaminated soil

  • Moving plants between indoor and outdoor spaces

Because indoor conditions lack natural predators, whiteflies can multiply quickly once they arrive.

Pests Are Normal—Don’t Panic

If you’ve found whiteflies on your plants, you’re not alone. These pests are a normal part of plant care and don’t mean you’ve failed your plants. The key is to act early, combine treatments, and use a layered Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to keep populations under control.

Biological Control with Koppert Solutions

Trusted biocontrols that target whiteflies across their lifecycle:

Parasitic Wasps

  • En-Strip (Encarsia formosa) & Ercal (Eretmocerus eremicus) → Parasitize whitefly larvae, turning them black or yellow.

  • Enermix → A blend of both wasp species, recommended for preventive or early curative use.

Predatory Mites & Bugs

  • Swirski-Mite (Amblyseius swirskii) → Feeds on whitefly eggs and larvae, with wide temperature tolerance.

  • Limonica (Amblydromalus limonicus) → Effective even in cooler climates.

  • Mirical (Macrolophus pygmaeus) → A predatory bug that targets whiteflies, aphids, and spider mites.

Beneficial Fungi

  • Mycotal (Akanthomyces muscarius) → A natural fungus that infects and kills whiteflies, thrips, and aphids. Leaves no harmful residues and works well in cooler temps.

Sticky Traps

  • Horiver Traps (Wetstick Cards, Rollertraps) → Capture adult whiteflies, reducing breeding and helping with early detection.

Other Effective Treatments You Can Use

Alongside beneficial insects, these retail-ready treatments work well for houseplants and small greenhouse collections:

  • Dr. Doom Plant Spray
    How it works: Gentle but effective against soft-bodied pests like whiteflies, gnats, and aphids.
    How to use: Spray directly on infested plants to knock down populations.

  • Safer’s Insecticidal Soap
    How it works: Breaks down the protective coating of whiteflies and other pests.
    How to use: Apply directly to leaves (especially undersides) where nymphs and adults hide.

  • Safer’s Sticky Traps
    How it works: Bright yellow traps lure and capture adult whiteflies.
    How to use: Place near affected plants to reduce populations and monitor infestations.

Using Beneficials with Other Treatments

It’s important to consider how different treatments interact:

  • Beneficials first: Release parasitic wasps, mites, or fungi before applying soaps or sprays. Other pest treatments will kill beneficials. 

  • Avoid overlap: Insecticidal soaps and sprays may harm beneficials if applied at the same time.

  • Traps are safe: Sticky traps can always be combined with biological control.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Whiteflies

An effective IPM strategy looks like this:

  1. Release parasitic wasps and predatory mites/bugs early.

  2. Apply Mycotal in cooler conditions or lingering infestations.

  3. Place sticky traps for monitoring and reducing adult populations.

  4. Use Dr. Room Plant Spray or Safer’s Insecticidal Soap for direct knockdown. Remember this will kill your beneficials so we recommend sticking with one method unless you are trying to attack a large population. 

  5. Isolate new plants and maintain hygiene to prevent reinfestation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which whiteflies affect houseplants the most?
Mainly Greenhouse Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and Tobacco Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci).

Why use multiple controls?
Each treatment targets different life stages. Combining them ensures complete suppression.

Can I prevent reinfestation?
You can’t always avoid them, but isolating new plants, maintaining hygiene, and using sticky traps greatly reduce risks.

Conclusion

Whiteflies may be stubborn, but they’re absolutely manageable. With a mix of biocontrols, sticky traps, insecticidal sprays, and good plant hygiene, you can protect your houseplants and greenhouses sustainably.

At Urbane Eight, we’re proud to carry both Koppert’s biocontrol solutions and trusted products like Dr. Room Plant Spray, Safer’s Insecticidal Soap, and Safer’s Sticky Traps.

Shop Urbane Eight today for whitefly solutions and keep your plants thriving year-round.

Back to blog