The very small, translucent, six-legged crawlers are a mobile stage. In about 4 to 5 days, the winged adults emerge. The life cycle ranges from 8 to 40 days, varying with climatic conditions. The greenhouse whitefly is difficult to control because of its complex life history. There are five distinct stages, which have different tolerances to insecticides.
Eggs are resistant to all but a few insecticides.
The crawlers are quite susceptible to contact insecticides. The adults fly from plant to plant seeking new sites to lay eggs. Adults are most easily controlled with a fumigant or space spray, although contact insecticides are also effective. All life stages can exist simultaneously as generations overlap. Thus, a single application of a particular insecticide only affects susceptible stages, leaving the other stages to survive and reproduce.