#ArizonaBTCReserve Whitefly Pest (Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum)

Description: Whiteflies are tiny, sap-sucking insects commonly found on the undersides of plant leaves. Despite their name, they are not true flies. They belong to the order Hemiptera and are closely related to aphids and scale insects.

Appearance:

Small (1–2 mm long)

White, powdery wings

Yellowish-white body

Congregate in large numbers on the undersides of leaves

Life Cycle:

1. Egg – Laid on the underside of leaves in a circular pattern.

2. Nymph – Flat, scale-like stage that feeds on plant sap.

3. Pupa – A non-feeding, resting stage.

4. Adult – Emerges and begins reproduction quickly.

Damage to Plants:

Sap sucking reduces plant vigor, causes yellowing and leaf drop.

Sooty mold grows on honeydew excreted by whiteflies, reducing photosynthesis.

Virus transmission – Whiteflies are vectors of many plant viruses (e.g., Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus).

Host Plants:

Affect a wide range of crops like tomatoes, cotton, eggplant, okra, cucurbits, and ornamental plants.

Control Methods:

1. Cultural – Remove infested plant debris, use reflective mulches, and maintain proper spacing.

2. Biological – Natural predators like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps (Encarsia spp.).

3. Chemical – Insecticides (e.g., imidacloprid), but use carefully due to resistance development.

4. Mechanical – Yellow sticky traps to capture flying adults.

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