Report #1717 - Report: Ash Whitefly (Siphoninus phillyreae)

Ash Whitefly (Siphoninus phillyreae) on Oct 22, 2015

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Heavy infestation of ash whitefly (Siphoninus phillyreae). Particularly thick in early afternoon/evening. Nearly impossible to walk around the neighborhood because the presence is so strong (end up with a mouth and eye full of the bugs).

Commentary

California had great success with controlling this species by releasing the parasitoid wasp Encarsia inaron. This is not available for commercial sale but I am very interested in controlling these bugs before they do harm to the protected wetlands in our neighborhood. Could you assist us with controlling this infestation before damage is done?

Reporter
Oct. 22, 2015, 8:34 a.m.

Thank you for your report and your interest in biological control. There is some good news on that front. Just this week the Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed that two predators of the ash whitefly are also present in Oregon (a wasp and a lady beetle). This news story from ODA has the details:
http://odanews.wpengine.com/controlling-the-ash-whitefly-naturally-in-oregon/.
It appears that ODA has a goal of rearing and releasing more of these predatory wasps next year.

Amy Grotta
OSU Extension Service

Amy Grotta
Oct. 23, 2015, 3:05 a.m.

Ash Whitefly (Siphoninus phillyreae) on Oct 22, 2015

Description of specimen

Commentary

Location

Expert Reviewer