Entomology
Whiteflies are small, winged insects measuring about 1-3mm in length. Despite their name, they are more closely related to scales and mealybugs than true flies. Their most distinctive features include:
- White, moth-like wings held tent-fashion over body
- Yellow to pale green body beneath wings
- Piercing-sucking mouthparts
- Triangular wing shape when at rest
- Both pairs of wings similar in size
- Covered in fine, waxy powder
Reproduction Cycle
White flies have a Unique Life cycle spending most of its life immoble under the leaves of plants. Their life cycle includes:
- Eggs: The eggs are layed on the under side of leaves hatching in 7 to 10 days
- Crawler: This will only last for a few hour until it finds a place to feed
- Nymphs: Once they have found a feeding spot they will stay there for 10 to 30 day.
- pupa: Lasting 7 to 10 days they will emerge making a distinct T-shape pattern.
- Adults: The average life span is one or two months.
Social Aspects
Not a social insect the do tend to gather in large number with behaiviors such as:
- Forming dense colonies under favorable plants
- Symbiotic relationships with ants
- Courtship rituals such as singing and dance
- swarm behavior to confuse predators
Treatment Options
- Spray plants with strong water stream
- Introduce natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings)
- Apply insecticidal soap
- Use neem oil
- Plant companion plants (marigolds, nasturtiums)
- Prune heavily infested areas
