• Worldwide distribution. In tropics and sub-tropics. Several strains. On many crops, ornamentals and weeds.
• Eggs laid on underside of leaves produce 'crawlers' and scale-like larvae, then yellow and white adults.
• Adults suck sap, fungi grow on honeydew excreta blackening leaves, and spread important viruses.
• Natural control: predators and parasitoid wasps. 
• Cultural control: reflective mulches; trap crops; check seedlings for infestations; avoid overlapping crops; weed; monitor; collect and burn trash after harvest.
• Chemical control: soap, white or horticultural oils; alternatively, PDPs: chilli, neem, or derris. Avoid synthetic insecticides because of development of resistant strains.

Sweetpotato whitefly, tobacco whitefly, silverleaf whitefly

Bemisia tabaci. There are a number of closely related strains (or biotypes) that appear the same as the local strains, but can only be identified by molecular techniques. The two most important are the silverleaf, MEAM1 or B biotype, and the Q or Mediterranean (MED) biotype. The B biotype is also referred to as a different species, Bemisia argentifolii, and more species may be named in the future from within this group. Both spread many viruses, and are resistant to many insecticides.