Greenhouse Whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Greenhouse whitefly is found widely around the world, including most of the temperate and subtropical regions of North America, South America, Europe, Central Asia and India, northern and eastern Africa, New Zealand and southern Australia. It does not thrive in most tropical locations, and occurs in colder regions only by virtue of its ability to survive winter in greenhouses. It often overwinters only in such protected locations, but in mild-winter areas it survives outdoors throughout the year. The origin of this species is not certain, but is thought to be Mexico or the southwestern United States.

Life History

The development period from egg to adult requires about 25–30 days at 21°C, and 22–25 days at 24°C. Thus, because the preoviposition period of adults also is short, less than two days above 20°C, a complete life cycle is possible within a month. Greenhouse whitefly can live for months, and oviposition time can exceed the development time of immatures; this results in...