Life cycle
- Oval-shaped eggs are laid on the underside of mature young leaves in horseshoe shaped or circular patterns. The eggs often appear as if they have been dusted with white powdery wax. From these the larvae or ‘crawlers’ emerge.
- The larvae settle in groups on the underside of the leaf and look like small scales. After a few weeks the outer coverings of the larvae harden and form pupal cases. From the pupae, the adults later emerge to continue the lifecycle.
- There are several generations of whitefly a year. The greatest populations usually occur in spring and autumn, coinciding with growth flushes. All growth stages can often be found on citrus trees at any one time.
Identification
- Adult Orchamoplatus citrus is about 2.5mm long. Both pairs of wings and the body are covered with a white, waxy, wool-like secretion. The adults cluster on young shoots and leaves. Adults will fly off in clouds when disturbed.
- Another indication of whitefly infestation is the presence of eggs laid in circular patterns and other immature stages sticking to the undersides of the leaves.
