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greenhouse whitefly

insect
Also known as: Trialeurodes vaporariorum

Quick Summary

The greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) is a tiny, white, four-winged insect related to aphids and scale insects. Both adult whiteflies and their pale green larvae feed on plants by sucking their juices, causing them to yellow, wilt, and eventually die. These pests are common on houseplants and in greenhouses, especially in warm climates.12

Whiteflies undergo a gradual metamorphosis. Their immature stages, called larvae, are wingless. In subsequent stages, they become sessile and scalelike, resembling nymphs, with internal wing development occurring. The final molt forms a puparium, completing their metamorphosis. Controlling them requires sprays that target both adult and larval stages.32

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