Whiteflies

Whitefly, Bemisia

Whiteflies feed on the sap of plants, similar to the closely related aphids, mealybugs, and scale. They are most active during the warm parts of the day and prefer the undersides of leaves. Often confused for miniature moths, they are hardly 3 mm (1/8 inches) in length yet can become a serious pest when natural biological control is disrupted. They build up populations quickly and can breed all year in warm climates, and warm environments such as greenhouses. Greenhouse whiteflies and the sweetpotato and silverleaf whiteflies have a wide range of host plants and are the most common whiteflies to cause damage.