Home Grown: Whiteflies and looper can threaten melons
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - As lettuce season wraps up in the desert southwest, melon season is in full gear, but some insects are giving Yuma farmers a run for their money.
Whiteflies are the first most common pests. They can draw down vines by laying eggs and the insect will suck the nutrients out of the vines.
On top of that, whiteflies carry diseases.
Other threats are worms like the looper.
They hatch on the vine leaves and will then feed on the leaves and outside of the melon leaving some ugly scars.
Looper also drop feces while they eat.
Farmers can control these pests using different either organic or non-organic pesticides
