White flies feed by tapping into the phloem(the vascular tissue through which food is distributed in a plant) of leaves and sucking out the sap. After losing their essential juices, plant leaves turn yellow, dry out, and usually drop off the plant. Like aphids, white flies excrete honeydew that causes unsightly sooty black mold to grow on the leaves. Honeydew also attracts ants, which interferes with the activities of natural enemies that may control white flies and other pests.

Habitat:
White flies are typically found on the underside of plant leaves in gardens and landscapes throughout the U.S. Some white fly species can transmit viruses to certain vegetable crops. With the exception of the citrus white fly, white flies are generally not a problem in fruit trees; however, several white flies can be problematic on ornamentals.

Adults usually do not cause significant damage unless they are transmitting a plant pathogen. Plant loss tends to occur where there is a large population of white fly nymphs.

Damage:
In 1997 Tomato yellow leaf-curl begomovirus was discovered in Florida. This plant disease is considered the worst viral disease of tomato. The disease is transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii. Which has also been shown to transmit almost all of the 60 known whitefly transmitted plant viral diseases.

Interesting Fact:
Biological (naturally-occurring, non-chemical) controls such as the whitefly parasite is sometimes used to control infestations. These tiny parasitic wasps provide excellent control of greenhouse whitefly. Each adult whitefly parasite lays 100-200 eggs and each egg will kill one whitefly larva. The wasp develops inside the whitefly nymphs and emerges after 20 days.

Control:
Management of heavy whitefly infestations is very difficult. Whiteflies are not well controlled with any available insecticides. Avoid or remove plants that repeatedly host high populations of whiteflies. In gardens, whitefly populations in the early stages of population development can be held down by the removal of infested leaves, vacuuming adults, or hosing down with water sprays.

Removal can also be accomplished using an alcohol spray. Mix 4 ounces of 70% isopropyl alcohol to 12 ounces of water and spray affected areas. Test for plant sensitivity first as alcohol can burn. Don’t use on plants with waxy or hairy leaves.

Aluminum foil or reflective mulches can repel whiteflies from vegetable gardens. Yellow sticky traps to monitor, or at high levels, reduce white fly numbers. They are bright yellow glue traps which white flies will readily be drawn to as they leave local colonies seeking new host plants. These traps can help by catching foraging reproductives before they can settle down and start feeding and laying eggs. 1-2 traps should be set by infested plants and checked every few days.

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