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ASH WHITEFLY FACTS |
Identification
The adult Ash Whitefly is a pale whitish whitefly with slightly mottled wings. The winged adults flutter around like tiny moths when disturbed. They are very similar to many other different species of whitefly. Ash Whitefly pupae have a white body with greyish bands. The nymphs go through several stages of development with the fourth stage nymphs having a distinct border of spines round their perimeter tipped with balls of white waxy material. The pupae are small and immobile found in clusters on the underside of leaves of the host plant.
Size
length 1mm to 2mm
Food
The Ash Whitefly feeds on numerous woody fruit plants including pomegranates (Punica granatum), apples, plums, pears, olives (Olea europaea), citrus. Ash whitefly also feeds on a range of garden ornamental plants including ash species, crepe myrtle, privet, magnolia, pyrus, buckthorn and hawthorn. Heavy infestations cause wilting, leaf drop, reduction in fruit size, and growth of sooty mould on the sugary exudate.
Breeding
Winged females lay eggs on underside of leaves. The nymphs hatch from the eggs and feed on tree sap until pupation. Pupation takes place on the undersides of leaves. The entire life cycle from egg to adult usually takes place under the same leaf.
Range
In Australia the ash whitefly is found in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Hemiptera | | Family: | Aleyrodidae | | Genus: | Siphoninus | | Species: | phillyreae | | Common Name: | Ash Whitefly |
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