If small white insects fly up when you touch the house or potted plants, you might immediately think that it is a moth infestation. As a rule, however, they are whitefly insects.
Are white insects in potting soil moths?
White insects in potting soil are mostly whitefly insects, which feed on plant sap and can damage plants. Natural methods such as water baths, repotting, yellow panels, predators or moth-repellent plants are suitable for combating.
The whitefly
It is a very small flying insect with white, powdered wings, which at first glance can easily be confused with a moth and is also known as a “whitefly”.
The common moth does not normally appear in potting soil because this soil usually contains peat and moths do not like peat. However, if the potting soil contains compost, moths can appear. However, this is very rare, as hot rotting in the compost kills all pests, their eggs and larvae.
The whiteflies under the plant leaves, on and in the potting soil are actually whitefly insects. They feed on plant sap and can cause great damage. Clear signs of a long-term infestation are yellowish-brown spots on the leaves.
Fighting the whitefly
Instead of using chemicals, you should try to combat the pests with natural remedies or home remedies.
The easiest option is to submerge the pots in a bucket full of water for 30 minutes. The animals drown and swim to the surface of the water, where they can easily be drained.
Repotting is also a good way to get rid of the annoying animals. However, care must be taken to replace all of the old soil, including that between the roots. Yellow panels attract harmful insects and they remain stuck on the sticky surface.
Predators
Whiteflies feel most at home where there are no predators lurking. If you pay attention to biodiversity in your garden, you will provide a habitat for many beneficial insects, which will then take care of the moth problem. Natural predators of the whitefly are:
- many species of spiders
- Ladybug
- lacewing larvae
- Parasitic wasps
- Predator bugs
Fighting whitefly with plants
If the animals appear in planters or in beds, certain plants can be cultivated between the flowers, which keep the moths away with their smell. Suitable are:
- Basil (a spray with basil decoction also helps)
- Firebush
- Nasturtium
- Thyme
- Zinnias