1. Insect
  2. Vegetable Crops
  3. Vegetable Crops
  4. Hosts and Pests of Vegetable Crops

Tomato-Whitefly

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Greenhouse whitefly
Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood
Immature pupa on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Tomato-Whitefly
Greenhouse whitefly
Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Tomato-Whitefly
Greenhouse whitefly
Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood
Adult egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes

Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vapariorum)
Silverleaf whitefly (Bemesia argentifolii)
Sweetpotato whitefly (Bemesia tabaci)

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Management-cultural control

Inspect new plants before purchase: infestations often are introduced. Encourage natural enemies such as ladybird beetles, spiders, and parasitic wasps. Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which reduce populations of these.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

For best results, direct spray toward undersides of leaves. Read label application instructions carefully.

  • acetamiprid
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (usually as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
  • capsaicin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • cyfluthrin
  • deltamethrin
  • esfenvalerate
  • gamma-cyhalothrin
  • horticultural oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • imidacloprid
  • insecticidal soap-May require several applications. Complete coverage, especially under leaves, is essential. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin
  • malathion
  • permethrin
  • plant essential oils (rosemary, etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.047 to 0.075 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/A or four treatments per season.
  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.02 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/A per season. Washington only.
  • beta-cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 360) at 0.096 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/A beta-cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/A imidacloprid per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade WSB) at 0.033 to 0.08 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.32 lb ai/A per season.
  • bifenthrin/Avermectin (Athena) at 0.09 to 0.12 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/A avermectin or 0.2 lb ai/A bifenthrin per season.
  • bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.08 to 0.15 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A imidacloprid and 0.4 lb ai/A bifenthrin per season. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not graze livestock in treated areas or cut for feed.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/A per season. Limit 4 treatments.
  • buprofezin (Talus 70DF) at 0.26 to 0.4 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 2 applications per growing cycle. Retreatment interval 5 days. Greenhouse only.
  • Chenopodium ambrosioides extract (Requiem 25EC) at 4 to 6 pints formulated product per acre. REI 4 hr. Use high rate when conditions are favorable for heavy pressure. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.175 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.088 to 0.133 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Limit 6 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per year.
  • cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 2.7) at 0.11 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.17 lb ai/A cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/A imidacloprid per year.
  • dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/A foliar and 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/A for soil. PHI 1 day (foliar), 21 days (soil). REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/A (foliar) or 0.532 lb ai/A (soil) per season.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/A per season.
  • fenpyroximate (Miteus) at 1.25 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 2.5 lb ai/A per season. Limit 2 applications.
  • flubendiamide/buprofezin (Vetica) at 0.29 to 0.35 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Limit 3 treatments. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.79 lb ai/A per year.
  • flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200SL) at 0.14 to 0.18 lb ai/A foliar, 0.27 to 0.37 lb ai/A soil. PHI 1 day foliar, 45 days soil. REI 4 hr. Foliar retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.365 lb ai/A per season.
  • imidacloprid (Provado, Prey) at 0.04 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A per season.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.25 to 0.38 lb ai/A soil or 0.047 to 0.079 lb ai/A foliar. PHI 0 foliar; 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days foliar. Do not exceed 0.38 lb ai/A soil per application or 0.24 lb ai/A foliar per season.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.021 lb ai/1,000 plants soil treatment in greenhouse or 0.016 lb ai/10,000 plants foliar treatment in planthouse. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Limit one treatment per crop season.
  • Metarhizium anisopliae (Met52 EC) at 40 to 80 fl oz/100 gal as drench or 8 to 64 fl oz/A foliar. PHI 0. REI 4 hr.
  • novaluron (Rimon 0.83EC) at 0.078 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/A per season.
  • pymetrozine (Fulfill) at 0.086 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/A per season.
  • pyrifluquinazon (PQZ Insecticide) at 0.035 to 0.047 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 4 treatments. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.14 lb ai/A per year. Apply by ground equipment.
  • pyriproxyfen (Knack) at 0.054 to 0.067 lb ai/A. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.109 lb ai/A per season.
  • spiromesifen (Oberon 2SC) at 0.11 to 0.13 lb ai/A PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 3 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per season.
  • spirotetramat (Movento) at 0.06 to 0.08 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/A per crop season.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.047 to 0.086 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/A per season.
  • thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.172 lb ai/A soil applied. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/A per season.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.195 to 0.257 lb ai/A applied to the soil. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.

These products contain commonly used active ingredients for control of whitefly in tomato. There are other materials available. Please consult a licensed crop advisor for additional recommendations.