However, when compared to last season, populations are significantly less as a whole, but some fields have high populations. Correct identification is important. Many of us are more familiar with the banded winged whitefly which is much easier to control. The banded winged whitefly has faint but visible grayish bands on the wings whereas the silverleaf whitefly is solid white. Silverleaf whitefly is a localized pest.
Eggs are oblong, pointed, and yellowish brown.
The first stage upon hatching is known as the crawler that moves about searching for a suitable site to attach itself on the underside of the leaf. Once becoming sessile, three more molts occur as a flattened, oval nymph. These scale like nymphs remain stationary, sucking plant sap. As the nymphs develop and molt, red eye spots will become visible on the yellowish scale like immature. The pupal stage has very prominent red eye spots.