Tetraleurodes stanfordi, T. vaporarior, Dialeurodes chittendeni, Palius azaleae, Aleurothrixus floccosus
The Whiteflies, family Aleyrodidae, are not true flies, but are related to psyllids and aphids in the order Homoptera. Many different species of whiteflies occur on landscape plants. Whitefies are pests in interiorscapes and outdoors in mild‑winter areas.
The eggs are tiny eggs (yellowish first, then gray) are located on the undersides of leaves. They are cone-shaped, stand on end and hatch in 2 days. The nymphs are yellowish and 6-legged. After a few days they will shed their legs and become rounder and thicker and then resemble scale Insects. These will molt several times.The adults wings are covered with waxy powder. Females have legs. Males do not. Their complete development requires 3 – 4 weeks.
Many ornamentals and a variety of trees including oak, ash, hibiscus, catalpa, and many others are hosts to whiteflies.
They are widespread and most numerous in warm climates.
Whiteflies suck phloem sap and high-level populations cause leaves to yellow, shrivel, and drop prematurely. The honeydew excreted by nymphs is colonized by airborne spores of fungi that leads to sooty mold growth. Honeydew attracts ants which disrupt the biological control of whiteflies and other pests. Whiteflies usually occur in groups on the underside of leaves. When a plant they are inhabiting is touched or shaken, they will fly up in a swarm then immediately settle down again on the host.They derive their name from their coating of white wax. Sticky honeydew covers the surface of the leaves and a black (sooty) mold may be present. Plants are stunted, discolored and sticky.
Whiteflies usually have several generations per year, with whiteflies of all stages found year‑round. Generations may be completed in as little as a few weeks to as long as several months. They can overwinter as eggs or nymphs.