White Flies

Whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae) belong to the group of insects called the Sternorrhyncha. This group includes other economically important insects such as scales (Coccoidea), aphids (Aphidoidea), and jumping plantlice (Psylloidea). Whiteflies are not only injurious to their host plants through feeding, but are also capable of transmitting numerous plant-viral diseases. Worldwide, there are approximately 1,200 described species of whiteflies. Adults are minute insects, 2-3 mm in length. The body is either pale, partially pigmented, orcompletely pigmented. The two pairs of wings have reduced venation and are covered with white powdery wax. The wings are either completely pale or with brown markings, or greyish brown with pale markings; some species have reddish pigments in a pattern. The body is completely covered with minute spinules. Antennae are elongate and are 7-segmented. The compound eyes are either completely divided into dorsal and ventral eyes or are joined by one ommatidium. Mouthparts are elongate and developed for piercing and sucking plant tissue.