Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Subclass	Pterygota
Infraclass	Neoptera
Superorder	Paraneoptera
Order	Hemiptera
Suborder	Sternorrhyncha
Superfamily	Aleyrodoidea
Family	Aleyrodidae
Subfamily	Aleyrodinae
Genus	Bemisia

Scientific Name

Bemisia argentifolii

Scientific Name Synonyms

Bemisia tabaci Biotype B

Bemisia tabaci b biotype

Bemisia argentifoli

Common Name

silverleaf whitefly

Authors: Dr. Randy Hudson, Dr. David Adams, University of Georgia, Department of Entomology.

Description

The silverleaf whitefly adult is small, isabout 0.9 to 1.2 mm in length, and holds its solid white wings roof-like over a pale-yellow body while at rest. The crawler and nymph look nothing like the adult. The nymphs are flattened, oval scalelike structures. Eggs are oblong and yellow, about 0.2 mm.

Hosts

The host range of silverleaf whitefly includes over 500 species of plants. Among these are weeds and cultivated vegetables, agronomic and ornamental crops.

Damage

Both adult and nymphal silverleaf whiteflies feed on the lower surfaces of leaves by sucking sap with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Chlorotic spots may appear around feeding sites on the upper surfaces of leaves. Whiteflies produce honeydew upon which sooty mold can grow; thus reducing light penetration; hence, reducing yield and quality. On squash they induce a condition known as silverleaf in which the foliage becomes highly reflective and the fruit is pale in color. On tomatoes silverleaf whitefly can cause a condition known as irregular ripening of the fruit, and they transmit viral diseases.

Life Cycle

The first stage upon hatching is known as the crawler (0.2-0.3 mm) that moves about searching for a suitable site to attach itself on the undersides of the leaf. Once becoming sessile, three more molts occur as a flattened, oval nymph. It requires as little as 18 days to develop from egg to adult under warm temperatures.

Control

On many crops, avoiding insecticide applications is one of the best alternatives economically. However, insecticides tank mixed with piperonyl butoxide or insecticidal soaps give fair to good control. Oil sprays are very helpful in reducing the potential for silverleaf on squash.

Originally compiled from

Hudson, R. and D. Adams. Silverleaf Whitefly. The University of Georgia.