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.
  • 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.