Could these be whiteflies? According to the Texas Bug Book by Howard Garrett and Malcolm Beck, '[Whiteflies] feed on the underside of leaves and secrete a honeydew that leads to sooty mold.'
Phosphorus deficient soils are a haven for these pests, so an application of colloidal phosphate to the soil would be in order. To kill on contact, spray garlic tea or garlic pepper tea and seaweed.
_________________ Nadine Bielling Moderator Gardener Exchange Forum
The Laws of Ecology: "All things are interconnected. Everything goes somewhere. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Nature bats last." --Ernest Callenbach
|