Control
- Horticultural oil sprays help control whitefly. In most cases, however, action is rarely required.
- Always check the label before spraying, as not all oils are registered for use in citrus.
Biological control
- Parasites of whiteflies include wasps such as Encarsia sp.
- Several predatory insects have been found associated with whitefly. These include small beetles belonging to the family Nitidulidae. The beetle larvae have been observed destroying the whitefly eggs and using the empty shells to decorate their light pupal covering.
- Naturally occurring beneficial insects include ladybirds, lacewing and syrphid (hoverfly).
Further reading
Citrus pests and their natural enemies: integrated pest management in Australia, by D Smith, GA Beattie & RH Broadley (eds), Queensland Department of Primary Industries, 1997.