The Wild World of Whiteflies

The Wild World of Whiteflies 

If you have ever looked closely at a plant in the summer, you have likely seen small white bugs crawling all over the underside of a leaf. These pesky insects are called whiteflies, and they are common in gardens and backyards everywhere. While whiteflies can live year round, they are most populous in the hot summer, which is why we don’t often see them unless it’s burning hot outside.

What Do Whiteflies Look Like?

Whiteflies are indeed white, like the name suggests, but they are actually not even flies! Their white appearance comes from the white wax that covers their body. They are related to mealybugs and aphids, which makes sense considering their behavior. Whiteflies also leave small drops of honeydew behind on leaves, which is harmful for the plant. This is because the honeydew can grow dark mold that blocks sunlight from getting to the leaves and completing photosynthesis, which then leads to the wilting and eventual loss of leaves. Whiteflies are active during the daytime, and they develop far faster in hot weather. While certain species have their favorite plants, many species enjoy most common plants. These species include the giant whitefly, greenhouse whitefly, and silver leaf whitefly. All whiteflies have wings when they are fully grown adults, but they typically don’t leave their colony for long. 

What Do Whiteflies Eat?

As stated earlier, many whiteflies enjoy various plants, but there are some that are commonly enjoyed among different species. Whiteflies suck the plant sap from underneath the leaves, which is why the colonies live on the undersides. This also provides a sense of protection for them, since they are not easily spotted by humans or animals who don’t know to look on the other side of the leaf. Their typical food preferences include vegetable plants and other plants, such as:

• Tomato plants
• Citrus trees
• Sweet potatoes
• Peppers
• Brassicas
• Capsicum
• Common houseplants
• Medicinal plants

Plants are more susceptible to damage from whiteflies when they are stressed, such as when it is hot outside. This is a deadly combination (literally) since whiteflies thrive in the heat. This is why it is so important to keep an eye out for whiteflies on any plants in the summer, since they are abundant during the most miserably hot times of the year. Their peak season is mid-to-late summer, and most of them are gone by the time winter arrives. But some species can overwinter in the warmer parts of the country, which means they can start their new colony earlier than normal during the next warm season.

What Does the Whitefly Lifecycle Look Like?

The whitefly grows like most insects, going from egg to nymph to larva to adult. They stay in one spot on the leaf for several stages, which is why a colony can drain a leaf of life so quickly. The nymph is the most dangerous stage, as it does the most damage to plant leaves. This is likely because they completely flatten themselves against the leaf during this time. Since they can’t fly yet, whitefly nymphs must resort to constantly feeding on the leaf they are resting upon. The whole lifecycle of a whitefly takes anywhere from 2 1/2 to 5 weeks to complete, and they can live for one to two months. This is somewhat of a long time for an insect that small, but it is even shorter when the whiteflies are picked off by a predator. 

How Can We Prevent and Treat Whiteflies?

There are a few ways to provide some DIY pest control against whiteflies, since they are so small and harmless to humans. One easy method is to spray the tops and bottoms of leaves in the hot months. If there are any whiteflies on there, they will be blasted away by the water. If not, they won’t want to be on the leaf since it’s wet and heavy. The plant will also appreciate the cool-down in the dead of summer, so it’s a win-win!

Another easy pest control method is to check the leaves regularly. While doing any yard work or gardening, check the undersides of some of the leaves for whiteflies. It is easy to take care of the problem when there is not too many of them. It is also extremely helpful to check leaves before bringing a new plant home or inside the house. You don’t want to introduce a new problem to your greenery, so it is a good idea to check the leaves before integrating the new plant into your happy home. 

Of course, there is always the natural pest control by way of the circle of life. Whiteflies have quite a few natural enemies who will take care of them so you don’t have to worry about it. Tree frogs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps all love whiteflies. While these can become pests of their own if there are too many, these predators can certainly help with whitefly population control. 

Pest control is always an option for any kind of pest. You can contact our team at any time to learn more about how you can prevent pest infestations from taking over your garden and home. We can treat pests big and small, even if they are as small as those pesky whiteflies.

Citations

How to identify and get rid of whiteflies on plants. (n.d.). Almanac. Retrieved on March 18, 2022, from https://www.almanac.com/pest/whiteflies 

Loughrey, J. (n.d.). How to get rid of whiteflies. Garden Design. Available at https://www.gardendesign.com/how-to/whitefly.html (Accessed on March 18, 2022).

Nielsen, L. (2021, August 1). Whiteflies: Eliminating tiny white pests. Epic Gardening. Available at https://www.epicgardening.com/whiteflies/ (Accessed on March 18, 2022). 

Waite, L. (2020, August 28). The buzz on whiteflies: Here is how to wipe them out in your garden. Record Searchlight. Available at https://www.redding.com/story/life/2020/08/28/buzz-whiteflies-here-how-wipe-them-out-your-garden/3434614001/ (Accessed on March 18, 2022).