Here's a picture of one of my basil plants:
[img]https://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/cdalemax/CIMG0810.jpg[/img]
They are indoors. They were doing great and then the leaves started curling and get paler, skinnier, fall off. There are tiny gummy clear spots on some of the leaves. I've seen tiny crawling insects on the leaves (I think whitefly larvae) but I haven't seen any lately. All the leaves curl on the plant. Some of the leaves also look like they've been pinched (see photo). They become deformed. I see those same gummy spots on my avocado plant leaves except the leaves don't curl. My thyme plants have the same issue as the basil and they got attacked by this when they just started sprouting out of the dirt. Any ideas?
Hi Newt
It's really hard to tell since the creatures are so tiny. But they just look a lot skinnier from what I can see on my plants. The ones on your picture look round almost. They're about that color though. They walk on the underleaf and sometimes on the top. The stems also seem to be getting thinner and dryer than my one remaining semi-healthy plant. Could whitefly larvae/crawlers do such damage even if not in big quantities? thank you!
It's really hard to tell since the creatures are so tiny. But they just look a lot skinnier from what I can see on my plants. The ones on your picture look round almost. They're about that color though. They walk on the underleaf and sometimes on the top. The stems also seem to be getting thinner and dryer than my one remaining semi-healthy plant. Could whitefly larvae/crawlers do such damage even if not in big quantities? thank you!
I still think it's whitefly nymphs you are seeing. They are a bit flat and oval shaped. They range in color from transluscent to light green and tend to stay in the underside of leaves.
Aphids are larger and the nymphs look much like the adults. They are rounder too and come in many different colors. They often congregate on the stems as well as the underside of plants. Here's info on both.
https://woodypest.ifas.ufl.edu/whitefly.htm
https://woodypest.ifas.ufl.edu/aphids.htm
I would suggest you try and shake the other plants that you say are effected to see if any whiteflies fly off and land again. You can use insecticidal soap to get rid of either. Spray every 5 to 7 days until gone. Be sure to spray the underside of all leaves. You may need to put an old shower curtain or sheet und er larger plants when you spray. You can purchase it or make your own.
https://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-insecticidal-soap.html
Newt
Aphids are larger and the nymphs look much like the adults. They are rounder too and come in many different colors. They often congregate on the stems as well as the underside of plants. Here's info on both.
https://woodypest.ifas.ufl.edu/whitefly.htm
https://woodypest.ifas.ufl.edu/aphids.htm
I would suggest you try and shake the other plants that you say are effected to see if any whiteflies fly off and land again. You can use insecticidal soap to get rid of either. Spray every 5 to 7 days until gone. Be sure to spray the underside of all leaves. You may need to put an old shower curtain or sheet und er larger plants when you spray. You can purchase it or make your own.
https://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-insecticidal-soap.html
Newt