Aleyrodidae

Aleyrodidae, commonly known as whiteflies, is a family of small sap-sucking insects in the order Hemiptera. They belong to the suborder Sternorrhyncha and the superfamily Aleyrodoidea. The family comprises hundreds of described species across many genera, distributed worldwide but especially in warm regions and in greenhouses.

Adults are tiny, typically a few millimeters long, with powdery white wings that are held roof-like over the body at rest. The body is pale, often yellowish. Wings are often wax-coated and can give a fluffy appearance. The life cycle includes eggs laid on the undersides of leaves, nymphs (crawlers) that feed on plant sap, and mobile or winged adults. Development is a hemimetabolous (incomplete) process, with several nymphal instars preceding adulthood.

Ecology and impact: Whiteflies feed on phloem sap, causing chlorosis, leaf curling and reduced vigor. They excrete honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold on foliage. Many species are important agricultural and horticultural pests, affecting crops such as tomato, cotton, citrus and ornamental plants. Several species act as vectors for plant viruses, including Begomoviruses and Criniviruses, facilitating rapid disease spread.

Management and control: Integrated pest management is commonly employed, combining monitoring, cultural practices, resistant plant varieties, and biological control with parasitoids such as Encarsia formosa and Eretmocerus species. Chemical controls may be used but can lead to resistance and non-target effects; sanitation and quarantine measures help prevent introductions and outbreaks.