This recent spate of very hot weather has led to a huge population
explosion of whitefly in the trees around where I live in North
Yorkshire. I have had problems with them inside a glasshouse but I have
never seen them occur like this outdoors and so very early in the
season.

Beech seems to be particularly badly affected and many trees are now
well coated in whitefly, dripping honeydew and literally humming. So far
no signs of decent numbers of predators like ladybirds or lacewings.

Anyone else seeing abnormal pest infestations?

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
This recent spate of very hot weather has led to a huge population
explosion of whitefly in the trees around where I live in North
Yorkshire. I have had problems with them inside a glasshouse but I have
never seen them occur like this outdoors and so very early in the
season.

Beech seems to be particularly badly affected and many trees are now
well coated in whitefly, dripping honeydew and literally humming. So far
no signs of decent numbers of predators like ladybirds or lacewings.

Anyone else seeing abnormal pest infestations?

Yes.
My fruit trees are badly infested

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004, Sue da Nimm wrote:

This recent spate of very hot weather has led to a huge population
explosion of whitefly in the trees around where I live in North
Yorkshire. I have had problems with them inside a glasshouse but I have
never seen them occur like this outdoors and so very early in the
season.

Beech seems to be particularly badly affected and many trees are now
well coated in whitefly, dripping honeydew and literally humming. So far
no signs of decent numbers of predators like ladybirds or lacewings.

Anyone else seeing abnormal pest infestations?

Yes.
My fruit trees are badly infested

Mine, too. I opened the window the other day and now there are hundreds
of dead whitefly all over my piano!

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"Sue da Nimm" . wrote in message
...

"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
This recent spate of very hot weather has led to a huge population
explosion of whitefly in the trees around where I live in North
Yorkshire. I have had problems with them inside a glasshouse but I
have
never seen them occur like this outdoors and so very early in the
season.

Beech seems to be particularly badly affected and many trees are
now
well coated in whitefly, dripping honeydew and literally humming.
So far
no signs of decent numbers of predators like ladybirds or
lacewings.

So much for natural control of pests by the use of predators.

Anyone else seeing abnormal pest infestations?

Yes.
My fruit trees are badly infested

Ditto.

Franz

Martin Brown wrote in message
...
This recent spate of very hot weather has led to a huge population
explosion of whitefly in the trees around where I live in North
Yorkshire. I have had problems with them inside a glasshouse but I have
never seen them occur like this outdoors and so very early in the
season.

Beech seems to be particularly badly affected and many trees are now
well coated in whitefly, dripping honeydew and literally humming. So far
no signs of decent numbers of predators like ladybirds or lacewings.

Anyone else seeing abnormal pest infestations?

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

Yup! The beeches in the Chilterns are COVERED in whitefly - trimming my
hedge is extremely unpleasant and all trees seem to be dropping honeydew,
not just the usual suspects of lime and birch. I also have lots of aphids
on my roses for the first time ever and although I don't use pesticides,
nary a ladybird adult or larva is in evidence. Damselflies seem to be
taking aphids, but they'll be too fat to fly before long.

Liz

Wondered why my beech hedges were covered in sticky residue with millions of little white flies all over them. As I'm new to gardening, should I be doing anything about this and if so what?

I've had trouble with whitefly on my brassicas for the last two seassons (2003 and 2003) I haven't bothered growing any brassicas this year for that very reason. BTW, I'm in Lincolnshire.