
Community identification
Whitefly
Aleyrodidae
- Order & Family
- Order Hemiptera; Family Aleyrodidae
- Size
- 1 to 2 millimeters in length
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the undersides of leaves in gardens, greenhouses, and agricultural fields worldwide.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on plant sap (phloem) using piercing-sucking mouthparts, often targeting ornamental plants and vegetables.
Behavior Patterns
They are often seen in large groups and will fly up in a 'cloud' when the host plant is disturbed. They excrete a sticky substance called honeydew and go through four nymphal instars before becoming winged adults.
Risks & Benefits
Major agricultural pests that can weaken plants, cause yellowing or leaf drop, and transmit plant viruses. They are beneficial only as a food source for natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings.