Silverleaf Whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

The silverleaf whitefly Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) causes many plants to change color, turning yellow, white, or silver, depending on the specific host plant. Because various squash species turn silver when infested the species was given the common name ‘silverleaf whitefly’. In north Florida, high populations of this serious pest are often seen in the fall whereas in south Florida populations tend to exist throughout the year with the peak in the summer. Monitoring is an essential part of a whitefly management program. The pest is difficult to control with insecticides because adults and immature stages infest the lower surfaces of leaves which are hard to reach with insecticide sprays. Also, the pest has developed resistance to many insecticide chemistries. Therefore, this pest should be managed using preventive and curative pest management tactics.