Dorsal spines are present when the host leaf is hairy and absent when the host leaf is smooth. Silverleaf whitefly probably occurs around the world in tropical and subtropical areas and in greenhouses in temperate areas. It has been reported from California, Florida and it occurs in North Carolina. Alfalfa, beans, brocolli, Citrus, Ficus, Lantana , lettuce, melons, cotton, grape, sweet potato, and poinsettia are definite hosts of the silverleaf whitefly. Gerbera daisies are probably hosts.
Direct damage is caused by the removal of sap, and indirect damage as a disease vector.
The silverleaf whitefly is a vector for several important virus diseases of lettuce and melons in the southwestern United States. Both the adult and nymphal stages contribute to direct damage. The excretion of honeydew and the subsequent development of sooty mold fungi also reduces the appearance, photosynthesis, and other physiological functions of the plant. Even though the silverleaf whitefly is considered an economic pest, economic thresholds have not been generated for this pest on ornamental plants. Developmental times from egg deposition to adult emergence appears to be primarily controlled by temperature, humidity, and host plant.