This whitefly strain is much more difficult to control than the regular greenhouse whitefly. Feeding and egg laying generally occur on the underside of leaves. Adult females lay 150 or more minute eggs on the underside of the leaves. These move about on the underside of leaves for 1 to 2 days searching for a suitable feeding site. On finding a site, the crawlers lose their legs and stop all movement for the remainder of the nymph's development.
Nymphs go through three instars and a pupa stage before reaching adulthood.
Full development generally takes from 25 to 30 days in greenhouses. Adults may live up to 30 days. Under greenhouse conditions generations overlap and all stages of the insect may be found on infested plants at any time. Further injury may result from the sticky honeydew secreted by whiteflies, which adheres to foliage and fruits. Whiteflies can reduce yields of greenhouse grown tomatoes.