Pest profile

Citrus Whitefly

Dialeurodes citri · Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae[3]

The citrus whitefly is a tiny, snow-white, moth-like insect whose scale-like nymphs feed on leaf undersides of gardenias, citrus, privet and other evergreens, coating plants with honeydew and black sooty mold.[1][2]

Citrus whitefly adult with white powdery wings on a leaf
Citrus whitefly adult with white powdery wings on a leaf. (c) りなべる, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Adults are tiny, with four white, powdery wings spanning less than 1/8 inch; unlike cloudywinged whitefly, the wings have no dark area in the middle.[1][2]
  • Nymphs are flat, oval and scale-like, fastened to the underside of leaves after the first molt; these stages are often more noticeable than the adults.[1][2]
  • Eggs are yellow and smooth, partly inserted into the lower leaf surface.[1][2]

Where it lives

Introduced from Asia (India), it is established in many southern states and in California, Colorado, Illinois and Washington, D.C.[1][2]

Biology and life cycle

Each female can lay up to 125 eggs, which hatch in 6 to 21 days into tiny crawlers that settle and lose their legs and antennae after the first molt.[1][2]

Adults emerge from T-shaped splits in the pupal skins; NC State reports three broods a year, with summer broods taking about two months.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Preferred hosts include citrus, gardenia, privet, chinaberry, prickly ash, pomegranate and Japanese persimmon; gardenias seem highly susceptible.[1]
  • Honeydew grows sooty mold that blackens leaves and may reduce photosynthesis; heavily infested gardenias may drop leaves early.[1]

Health risk

None to people or pets.[1][2]

Control

Biological control

Lady beetles, lacewing larvae and an introduced tiny wasp, Encarsia lahorensis, attack it, though lady beetles are seldom numerous enough for real control.[1]

Pesticides

Direct sprays to leaf undersides; horticultural oils, applied several times with good timing, work and are gentler on beneficial insects than pyrethroids.[1]

Common questions

Why are my gardenia leaves covered in black mold?
Sooty mold growing on honeydew from citrus whiteflies is a common cause.[1]
What are the flat, oval specks under the leaves?
Likely citrus whitefly nymphs, which look like tiny scales.[1][2]
What is the best spray for citrus whitefly?
Horticultural oil aimed at leaf undersides, repeated as needed.[1]

Sources

  1. NC State Extension, “Citrus Whitefly.” content.ces.ncsu.edu/citrus-whitefly (accessed 2026-10-15)
  2. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Citrus Whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (EENY-084).” ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN241 (accessed 2026-10-15)
  3. iNaturalist, “Dialeurodes citri taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/370909 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-15. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.