Whiteflies
Family: Aleyrodidae
Hosts
- Field-grown and greenhouse-grown (primarily) hemp
- Ageratum
- Aster
- Beans
- Begonia
- Calendula
- Cucumber
- Grape
- Hibiscus
- Lantana
- Nicotiana
- Poinsettia
- Squash
- Tomato
Description
Adults are tiny with bright white wings and yellow-orange heads. Immature stages are inconspicuous with pale, almost translucent, flat bodies that are mostly immobile.
Life Cycle
Egg | Nymph | Pupa | Adult
- Several generations per year.
- Populations continue from year to year in greenhouses and in warm southern climates.
Damaging Lifestage(s): Nymph, Adult
Damage Symptoms
Adults and nymphs feed with piercing-sucking mouthparts, causing leaves to turn yellow, appear dry, or fall off plants. Whiteflies, like aphids, also excrete a sugary substance called honeydew, causing shiny, sticky leaves or sooty mold growth on leaves.
Time for Concern
During warm weather and on transplants.
When and Where to Scout
- In the greenhouse, monitor with yellow sticky cards to detect whitefly presence.
- Look for large colonies during warm weather on the underside of lower leaves. Honeydew may also be noticeable on the tops of leaves.
- Before planting, inspect transplants for whiteflies.
Threat Level
High for greenhousegrown hemp.
Occurrence in Utah
Whiteflies have not yet been found feeding on field-grown hemp in Utah, but whitefly damage has been found in neighboring states.
Management
- Attract and conserve natural enemies as they often provide adequate control.
- Inspect transplants and remove any with high whitefly populations.
- In greenhouses, use biocontrol (such as hanging cards with Encarsia sp.).
- Approved insecticides are available.
When to Consider Treatment
In greenhouse production, consider treating when plants have a threshold of 10 nymphs/leaf.
Look-alikes
Aphid molted skins, leafhopper adults, scale insects.
Whitefly Insecticides
Utah-Registered Product | Active Ingredient(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|
Ancora | Isaria fumosorosea | Toxic to bees. |
AzaGuard | azadirachtin | |
AzaSol | azadirachtin | |
Azatin O Biological Insecticide | azadirachtin | |
Azatrol EC Insecticide | azadirachtin | |
Azera Insecticide | azadirachtin | |
Bayer Advanced NATRIA Insecticidal Soap Ready-To-Use | potassium laurate | |
Bonide All Seasons Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil Concentrate; Ready to Spray | mineral oil | Greenhouse use only (for commercial). |
Bonide Insecticidal Soap MultiPurpose Insect Control Ready To Use | potassium laurate | Greenhouse use only. |
Bonide Rose Rx 3 in 1 Concentrate | clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil | Greenhouse use only. |
Botanigard Maxx | pyrethrins | Greenhouse use only. |
Brandt Ecotec Plus | rosemary oil | Greenhouse use only. |
Captiva | capsicum oleoresin extract | |
Captiva Prime | capsicum oleoresin extract | |
Dr. Earth Final Stop OMRI Fruit Tree Insect Killer (RTU); Concentrate | rosemary oil | Outdoor use only |
Dr. Earth Final Stop OMRI Rose and Flower Insect Killer (RTU) | rosemary oil | Ground application only to non-blooming plants. |
Dr. Earth Final Stop OMRI Vegetable Garden Insect Killer (RTU); Concentrate | rosemary oil | Only to non-blooming plants. |
Dr. Earth Final Stop OMRI Yard and Garden Insect Killer (RTU); Concentrate | rosemary oil | |
Dr. Earth Final Stop ProActive Yard & Garden Insect Killer (spray) | rosemary oil | |
EcoWorks EC | neem oil, cold pressed | |
Evergreen Crop Protection EC 60-6 | pyrethrins | |
Ferti-lome Fruit Tree Spray | pyrethrins | |
Garden Safe Brand Insecticidal Soap Insect Killer | potassium laurate | |
Grandevo CG; WDG | Chromobacterium sub strain PRAA4-1 Cells |
|
Kopa Insecticidal Soap | potassiums salts of fatty acid | |
Leaf Life Gavicide Green 415 | mineral oil | Greenhouse use only. |
Mammoth Cancontrol | thyme oil | |
Mite-E-Oil | mineral oil | Greenhouse use only. |
Molt-X | azadirachtin | |
M-Pede Insecticide Miticide Fungicide | potassium laurate | |
Natural Guard Brand by Ferti-lome Insecticidal Soap Concentrate | potassium salts of fatty acids | |
Natural Guard Brand Neem | clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil | Only for outdoor hemp or transplants intended for outdoor fields. |
Neemix 4.5 Insect Growth Regulator a | azadirachtin | |
Organocide 3-in-1 Garden Spray Concentrate, Ready to Spray/RTU | sesame oil | |
Organocide Bee Safe 3-in-1 Garden Spray Concentrate; RTU | sesame oil | |
Ortho Tree & Shrub Fruit Tree Spray Concentrate | clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil | |
Prizefighter | ammonium nonanoate | |
PureCrop1 | soybean oil | |
Pycana | pyrethrins | Greenhouse use only. |
Pyganic Crop Protection EC 1.4 II; 5.0 II | pyrethrins | |
Pyrethrum TR Total Release Insecticide | pyrethrins | |
Rango | neem oil, cold pressed | |
Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap Concentrate II | potassium salts of fatty acids | |
Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap with Seaweed Extract II | potassium salts of fatty acids | |
Safer Brand Neem Oil Concentrate | clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil | |
Safer Brand Yard & Garden Insect Killer II | potassium salts of fatty acids | |
Spear T Liquid Concentrate | gs-omega/kappahxtx-hv1a | |
SuffOil-X | mineral oil | |
Tersus Insecticide | pyrethrins | |
Triact 70 | clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil | Older versions cannot be used on cannabis. |
Trilogy | sulfur | |
TriTek | mineral oil | |
Venerate CG; XC | Burkholderia sp strain A396 | |
Whitney Farms Insecticidal Soap | potassium laurate | |
Xpectro OD | pyrethrins |
Photo Credits
- Adults/Parasitized - USU Extension IPM Program
- Eggs - Bert Man Koppert, Biological Systems
- Nymph - Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org