whitefly

/ˌwaɪtˈflaɪ/

/ˌhwaɪtˈflaɪ/

Other forms: whiteflies

Definitions of whitefly

1. noun

   minute insect that feeds on plant juices; related to scale insects
   types:

   Dialeurodes citri, citrus whitefly

   whitefly that attacks citrus trees

   Trialeurodes vaporariorum, greenhouse whitefly

   whitefly that inhabits greenhouses

   sweet-potato whitefly

   a variety of whitefly

   Bemisia tabaci, poinsettia strain, superbug

   a strain of pest accidentally imported into Florida from the Middle East then spread to California where it is a very serious pest feeding on almost all vegetable crops and poinsettias

   cotton strain

   feeds primarily on cotton

   type of:

   homopteran, homopterous insect

   insects having membranous forewings and hind wings