whitefly

American  

[hwahyt-flahy, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˌflaɪ, ˈwaɪt- /

noun

plural

whiteflies

1. any of several plant-sucking, homopterous insects of the family Aleyrodidae, having the body and wings dusted with a white, powdery wax, and being widely distributed chiefly in tropical regions where they are often serious crop pests, as Dialeurodes citri citrus whitefly, commonly occurring on citrus trees, and Trialeurodes vaporariorum greenhouse whitefly, inhabiting greenhouses.

---

whitefly British  

/ ˈwaɪtˌflaɪ /

noun

1. any hemipterous insect of the family Aleyrodidae, typically having a body covered with powdery wax. Many are pests of greenhouse crops

---

Etymology

Origin of whitefly

First recorded in 1885–90; white + fly ¹

Example Sentences

Adult whiteflies are tiny insects about 3mm in size, smaller if they are immature.

From Science Daily

The halberd fern gene protected the cotton from whiteflies and other sucking pests, and Singh has now isolated other fern compounds that deter chewing insects, such as caterpillars.

From Science Magazine

And other insects need also beware, including termites, red palm weevils, whiteflies and other agricultural nuisances.

From Salon

But if you’re fighting tiny pests with limited mobility, like aphids, mites, flea beetles and whiteflies, Ms. Walliser recommends planting the trap crop very close, in alternate rows with the crop you want to protect.

From New York Times

There are some vegetable-safe insecticides you can use in vegetable gardens to control common pests like aphids and whiteflies, but you'll want to use these products sparingly and be sure to wash produce thoroughly.

From Salon