Glasshouse whitefly on eggplant
Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) is a small white insect feeding in groups on the underside of eggplant leaves. It sucks sap, produces honeydew and transmits viruses — under cover it breeds all season long.
Symptom photos
Symptoms
- Small white insects taking flight when the plant is shaken
- Oval larvae and empty white scales on the leaf undersides
- Sticky honeydew on leaves and fruit
- Black sooty mold growing on the honeydew
- Leaves yellowing and mottling, and flowers dropping
What it does to the crop
- Weakened plants and a smaller crop
- Fruit fouled with honeydew and sooty mold, and unmarketable
- Transmission of nightshade viruses
- Very hard to control once the population has built up
What encourages it
- Temperature 22-30°C under cover
- Continuous cropping with no clean break in the tunnel
- Tomatoes, cucumbers and ornamentals nearby
- No yellow sticky traps in place for monitoring
Prevention
- Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and catch the adults
- Fit mesh over the tunnel vents
- Introduce the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa
- Clear weeds and crop debris after the season
- Check leaf undersides every time you work on the crop
⚠️ Before you reach for a spray
This atlas is informational and still growing — different diseases can look almost identical. Confirm the diagnosis and read the product label before applying any plant protection product. If you are unsure, ask your local extension or advisory service.
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