Both adult and nymphal silverleaf whiteflies feed on the lower surfaces of leaves by sucking sap with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Honeydew accumulation on open lint may also cause problems. Excessive feeding may also cause premature leaf defoliation. Silverleaf whitefly is not a predictable pest in Georgia. Potentially significant damage may occur and infestations tend to be most severe during hot and dry conditions.
Infestations can build to extremely high numbers in a short period of time.
Cultural practices such as destroying crop residues which harbor whiteflies will help reduce overall population buildup. Conserving beneficials, planting smooth leaf varieties, and avoiding late planting are also a means of reducing the likelihood of whitefly problems. However, when and if the problem develops, control of silverleaf whitefly with insecticides is expensive and difficult. 1999 demonstrated to us that silverleaf whiteflies can significantly reduce yields. This pest is unpredictable, but failure to control damaging infestations can be very costly.