Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#101450
(Not So) New for Bug Guide: Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae); likely  Aleuroplatus.

(Not So) New for Bug Guide: Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae); likely Aleuroplatus.
San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, Orange County, California, USA
April 2, 2007
As adults, these small insects resemble the moth fly, except they are pure white in color and tent their wings over the body when at rest.

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America reports about a hundred species north of Mexico. Insects of the Los Angeles Basin notes five species of prime local importance. My guess is that those shown here are the Greenhouse Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) which feeds on the leaves of a large variety of plants and appears to be the most widespread in this area. Another possibility is the Crown Whitefly (Aleuroplatus coronata), which is the most common species on oak, and these were found landing on live oak.

I’ll check back in hopes of finding immatures, as these, unlike the adults, are easily differentiated. The Greenhouse Whitefly has translucent green pupa, while nymphs of the Grown Whitefly form distinctive crown patterns.

Additional information, as well as photos of Greenhouse Whitefly can be seen at:
http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/hemipt/Aleyrodes.htm

Images of this individual: tag all
(Not So) New for Bug Guide: Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae); likely  Aleuroplatus. Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae)

If these were on oak
the chances are very high that it is Aleuroplatus.

Trialeurodes vaporariorum usually has a very strikingly yellow body and, it might just be me, but your whiteflies seem a bit longer in shape.

 
Thanks for your comment, James.
...

Wow
Nice shot, especially considering how small they are...

 
Thanks, Graham
They are tough. I went back with a heavy-duty flash and did no better. Well, there's always tomorrow. (Wonder if they know that.)

We have some images in the guide
here, but unfortunately not much progress on identifying them.

 
(Blush) I'm so embarassed.
I continue to break new ground in messing up. Oh well, I was able to ID one of the earlier whoozits.

I don't think adults can be readily IDed. The plant they're on can make a difference. The Greenhouse Whitefly apparently favors citrus, but one source notes it dines on some 200 species of plants.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.