Banded whitefly becomes numerous in flower beds this time of year. They feed and build up on the field weed velvetleaf. Banded whiteflies tend to migrate to other plants as their numbers become massive and the velvetleaf starts to decline with the coming end of the season. A white fog of these insects will fly up from infested plants that are disturbed. Whiteflies sit on leaf undersides and feed by sucking out the sap.
Heavy numbers can cause leaf distortion and brownish areas.
Feeding by even large numbers of the adults is unlikely to cause serious damage. Sprays of insecticidal soap or summer spray oil will provide control, if needed. Fall webworm, yellow-necked caterpillars, and other caterpillars being found on trees and shrubs. Although these caterpillars may strip the leaves off fairly large branches, the branches will releaf next year. Damage of this type occurring late in the growing season does not seriously affect plant health.