Whiteflies on the underside of a cotton leaf.
WHITEFLIES (Bemisia tabaci) transmit geminiviruses from one plant to another. They are known to feed on at least 300 plants including cabbage, tomato, pepper and cauliflower, causing damage to the plant. Additionally, they produce honeydew which attracts ants and results in the growth of a black mold that affects plant growth. When these flies feed on infected plants, they acquire the geminivirus which they are able to transmit to healthy plants.
The whitefly and geminiviruses may be controlled by spraying with pesticides such as Pegasus®, Admire® and Actara®. Whiteflies often develop resistance to excessive use of these pesticides. When this happens, the pesticide will no longer kill the whitefly. Household detergents and cooking oils can also kill the whitefly on direct contact. Plants may also be grown in whitefly-free greenhouses.
Plants which are not susceptible to geminiviruses such as cucumber and eggplant can be used to create a barrier around the crops. The most important control method is the removal and destruction of symptomatic plants as soon as they start displaying symptoms.
