IPC Programs
Projects & Resources
Biocontrol: Insect Projects
Biological Control of Silver Whitefly
Silverleaf whitefly is a worldwide pest of numerous field and vegetable crops. It invaded southern California around 1990 and central California in 1992. Millions of dollars are spent each year in California alone to control the silverleaf whitefly. Several biotypes of this pest exist around the world and are known to rapidly gain resistance to insecticides. Program staff are working with scientists in the USDA, universities, and local county entomologists to reduce the impact of this pest. Several new, exotic parasites have been imported, evaluated and released into California. At least 3 new species have persisted and spread in Imperial Valley and the San Joaquin Valley for three or more years. Over the same period of time, a variety of annual and perennial plants have been screened for their ability to support these parasites around the perimeter of fields.
Click below to view photos:
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}