Resources

Websites

• Extension Entomology University of Hawaii
• Food & Fertilizer Technology Center
• Global Invasive Species Database
• Infonet-Biovision
• Tropical Whitefly IPM Project
• University of Arizona Whitefly Database
• Whitefly Knowledgebase

For further reading:

• Bemisi tabaci - the tobacco whitefly
• Non-cassava host plants of Bemisia tabaci in Uganda
• Forty-nine new host plant species for Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
• Host suitability of two biotypes of Bemisia tabaci on some common weeds
• History, current status, and collaborative research projects for Bemisia tabaci
• A list of recorded host plants of Bemisia tabaci

Whitefly Host Plants

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous insect, and feeds on a variety of plants. Over 600 plant species worldwide -- vegetables and fruits, field crops, ornamentals, and weeds -- have been identified as whitefly hosts. Some host plants are:

• Vegetables and fruits:
  • brassicas
  • citrus
  • cucurbits
  • eggplant
  • tomato
• Field crops:
  • alfalfa
  • cotton
  • peanut
  • soybean
  • tobacco
• Ornamentals:
  • chrysanthemum
  • gerbera daisy
  • hibiscus
  • lantana
  • poinsettia

Common weeds from several plant families can also serve as hosts of Bemisia tabaci in the absence of, or even in addition to, preferred crop hosts. These include pigweed (Amaranthaceae), stinking camphorweed (Asteraceae), shepherd's purse (Brassicaceae), morning glory (Convolvulaceae), cheeseweed/mallow (Malvaceae), and nightshade (Solanaceae). Winged adult whiteflies move among and feed on several plant species, as some plants are preferred as nutrient sources while others are more suitable as oviposition sites and for rearing of nymphs.

In sub-Saharan Africa, important agricultural crops most affected by whiteflies include cassava, beans, peppers, sweet potato, tomato, okra, cucurbits, and cotton. Whiteflies also damage high-value crops such as mango, melons, guava, and avocado.

Sources:

Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia. 2008. 'A list of recorded host plants of Bemisia tabaci including silverleaf whitefly.'
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/pw/ins/SLWFhostlist.pdf

Global Invasive Species Database. 2005. 'Bemisia tabaci (insect) ecology'.
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=106&fr=1&sts=

Infonet-Biovision. 'Whiteflies.' http://www.infonet-biovision.org/default/ct/77/pests

Johnson, F.A. et al. 2000. 'Sweetpotato/Silverleaf Whitefly Life Stages and Damage.' University of Florida IFAS Extension.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN004

McAuslane, H. 1997. Featured Creatures. University of Florida.
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/leaf/silverleaf_whitefly.htm

Muniz, M. 2000. 'Host suitability of two biotypes of Bemisia tabaci on some common weeds.' Entomologia Expermentalis et Applicata 95(1):63-70.

Riley, David. 2005. Image Number 2511050.
http://www.ipmimages.org/browse/subthumb.cfm?sub=2599&start=1

Unknown. 2006. 'Bemisia tabaci - the tobacco whitefly.'
http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/publications/plantHealth/documents/bemisia.pdf

Unknown. 2006. 'Whitefly destroy mango crops in Casamance.' The African Tribune.

© 2009 Lisa Moore, Entomology Dept., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.