Sweetpotato Whitefly in Arizona

Whitefly management has become a complex objective inArizona in the past several years. A tremendous amount of research and extension effort is now focused on this significant pest. Thepurpose of this paper is to describe the position and guidelines of the University of Arizona's Cotton Team regarding the Sweetpotato Whitefly. The information presented is credited to no single source, but represents a collection of information from numerous research and extension scientists within and outside of the U of A system and careful analyses of the presently available data on whitefly management dynamics. Where possible, only the results of research are reported and suggestions based only on experience or speculation are duly noted. Identity & Biology Whiteffies belong to a family of Homopteran insects called Aleyrodidae. They are not true flies, but more closely related to aphids and scale insects. Although there are numerous species in the West; only two species are routinely found in the cotton field. The bandedwinged whitefly, Trialeurodes abutilonea (Hald.), is often found incotton or melons in the early spring and summer. On occasion, its numbers may build to cause concern in cotton, but generally speaking, this insect rarely requires management action. It is more important from the standpoint of not confusing it with the second species, the sweetpotat