Notes on Identification Key

This key only works for the following four species:

sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)
silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring
bandedwinged whitefly, Trialeurodes abutilonea (Haldeman)
greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood)

In addition, this key only competently identifies the sweetpotato or silverleaf whiteflies if you use the fourth instar/pupa stage selection. If you key down to the sweetpotato or silverleaf whiteflies using one of the other selections, it is recommended that you obtain some fourth instar/pupa samples and rekey them. Otherwise, take specimens from as many stages as possible to your local county extension office and request a positive identification. Effective control strategies can vary for different whitefly species.


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Parts of this material may be reproduced for educational use. Please credit "United States Department of Agriculture, WHITEFLY KNOWLEDGEBASE"