The external appearance of the Tobacco whitefly is very similar to that of the Greenhouse whitefly. However, the Tobacco whitefly is a size smaller and yellower in color. The wings of this fly sit vertically along the body, making the yellow color of the body clearly visible. You can find the adult fly anywhere on the plant and the whole plant can therefore also be full of eggs. 

The Tobacco Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) undergoes a total of six stages. The larvae of this fly can only be found on the bottom of young leaves. They are oval, and in the last larval stage, they become round in shape and are yellow in color. If you look closely, the eyes – which are red in color – are also visible at this stage. The larvae can only move in the first larval stage. After this, they attach themselves to the leaf.

This fly feeds on plant saps. It does this by puncturing plant tissue and sucking the contents out. It then excretes any excess sugars in the form of honeydew. Sucking the saps from plant cells as well as excreting honeydew causes damage to the plant. Especially the large larvae secrete more honeydew. Honeydew also attracts sooty moulds, which can lead to economic damage. Plants then become unsaleable. Fruits become sticky because of the honeydew that ends up on them. The tobacco whitefly also spreads viruses, including Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl virus (TYLCV), which are harmful to the crop.

Prevention is clearly better than cure. That is why good occupational hygiene is important. If the tobacco whitefly has been spotted in a crop, it can be controlled by both biological and chemical crop protection products.

The natural enemies of Tobacco Whitefly are parasitic wasps, predatory bugs and predatory mites, including:  

• Eretmocerus eremicus: this parasitic wasp infests the larvae of the tobacco whitefly by placing an egg under it. As soon as the egg hatches, the parasitic wasp larva crawls into the host. The tobacco whitefly larva then dies after about two weeks. 
• Amblyseius swirskii: this mite can develop on plant foods such as pollen and plant spas and will therefore easily establish itself in the crop.
• Transeius montdorensis: this is a predatory mite that also survives on pollen and can therefore settle in many crops.
• Delphastus catalinae: is a predatory beetle that moves all over the plant in search of food. 
• MACROcontrol: contains the Macrolophus pygmaeus predatory bug. Per day, this predatory can suck dry as many as 40-50 white fly eggs. Macrolophus pygmaeus eats both the greenhouse whitefly and the tobacco whitefly.

There are various products on the market to chemically fight the whitefly. Due to frequent use of these agents, we are seeing more and more resistance. Products of natural origin do not have this resistance sensitivity. Botanigard or Naturalis are insect parasitic fungi capable of killing larvae. The agent Requiem Prime has a physical action on adult white flies. By mixing both products good and environmentally friendly control is possible. Both are kind to natural enemies.

Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jan-Paul de Wit will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.