Whitefly

Overview

Whitefly cause sap loss and honeydew; control often relies on parasitoids and steady monitoring.

Symptoms

• Adults fly up when disturbed
• Honeydew / sooty mould
• Slow plant decline

Conditions that increase risk

• Warm, still conditions
• Dense canopies

Biological control options

• Encarsia Formosa
• Eretmocerus Eremicus
• Amblyseius Swirskii (suppression)

IPM notes

• Monitoring & Thresholds
• Biological Control Top Ups

Preventative predator support

• Amblyseius Swirskii (warm conditions)
• Amblyseius Montdorensis (often stronger under cooler conditions)

---

Further guidance

• Whitefly — Biocontrol Foundations

Key natural enemies

• Encarsia Formosa
• Eretmocerus Eremicus
• Macrolophus Pygmaeus

Environmental drivers

• Favoured by warm, protected conditions; repeated generations occur in greenhouse crops.
• Dense canopies support faster build-up and make coverage/monitoring harder.
• Control is easier when addressed early at low density.