Aleyrodes proletella

The cabbage whitefly (Aleyrodes proletella) is a species of whitefly from the Aleyrodidae family. It has a global distribution.

Adults, eggs and pupae
Adult with eggs

Aleyrodes proletella
Aleyrodes proletella with eggs on Kale
Scientific classification
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A. proletella
Binomial name
Aleyrodes proletella
Synonyms
  • Aleyrodes brassicae Walker

Adults are 1.5 mm in length. They have white wings with four gray spots. The wings are white due to a powdery wax. The head and thorax are dark, while the underside is yellow and also covered with a layer of wax. The eyes are red.

The species is a pest on various Brassica species (mainly Brussels sprout, kale, collard, cabbage and broccoli)[1] and Fragaria. It also feeds on various wild plants, including Capsella bursa-pastoris. It is found in colonies on the backside of leaves. They suck in the phloem of the leaves and pollute these by excreting honeydew, causing mold growth.[2]

There are usually four to five generations per year. The development of a generation varies from three to six weeks. A female can lay up to 150 eggs.

References

  1. "Pest Alert: Cabbage Whitefly" (PDF). Oregon Department of Agriculture. July 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  2. Broekgaarden, Colette; Riviere, Pierre; Steenhuis, Greet; del sol Cuenca, Maria; Kos, Martine; Vosman, Ben (February 2012). "Phloem-specific resistance in Brassica oleracea against the whitefly Aleyrodes proletella: Whitefly resistance in cabbage". Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 142 (2): 153–164. doi:10.1111/j.1570-7458.2011.01210.x. S2CID 54030332. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
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