Whitefly on tomatoes
Whiteflies on tomatoes are more serious than they appear. The cloud of tiny white insects that erupts when you brush a tomato plant is alarming on its own, but the more significant threat is that several whitefly species vector viral diseases -- including Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV),.
Whiteflies on tomatoes are more serious than they appear. The cloud of tiny white insects that erupts when you brush a tomato plant is alarming on its own, but the more significant threat is that several whitefly species vector viral diseases — including Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), which has become a major problem in the southern US and is spreading north. By the time a viral plant collapse is obvious, it was transmitted weeks earlier by a single feeding whitefly.
I don't grow tomatoes at my Long Island property, so this guide draws on UC IPM, Penn State Extension, and NC State Extension research.
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The pests
Two primary whitefly species infest tomatoes in North America:
Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
Per UC IPM, the greenhouse whitefly is the most common whitefly on tomatoes in the northern US. It is not a major virus vector in most of the eastern US but causes direct damage through sap feeding and sooty mold from honeydew.
Fix soft-bodied pests fast
These pests all die on contact with insecticidal soap or neem oil, and both are safe on food crops up to harvest day. Read our full pick.
Silverleaf whitefly / sweet potato whitefly biotype B (Bemisia argentifolii)
Per NC State Extension, the silverleaf whitefly is the more economically serious species, primarily in the southern US and warmer regions. It is the primary vector of TYLCV and other viral diseases. Its nymphs appear more opaque and slightly smaller than greenhouse whitefly nymphs. The distinction matters: Bemisia develops insecticide resistance far more rapidly than the greenhouse whitefly and requires different management.