Adult whiteflies are fairly long lived. Under warm conditions females may live one to two weeks, but even longer life spans occur during cool conditions. The reproductive biology of whiteflies is similar to that of honey bees. There are two sexes, but males develop only from unfertilized eggs. Whiteflies overwinter in areas where host plants continue to be available throughout the year.
Populations are lower and development times are much longer under such conditions.
Whitefly populations are naturally held in check by a number of predators and parasites, particularly small parasitic wasps that attack the immature stage. Presumably it is these parasites that are being disrupted by the malathion treatments, resulting in the flaring of whitefly populations that has been observed during the early years of boll weevil eradication efforts. Based on available information, the number one selling insecticide on the world market in 1998 was imidacloprid. Imidacloprid is labeled as Provado for use on cotton in the USA, but this insecticide has a many other labels and uses in the US and throughout the world. There is a lot more wilting, white blooms, and open bolls.