Whitefly populations are low in some areas across southern Florida and high in others, according to the most recent release of the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline.
Reports show low levels of whiteflies in tomatoes, squash and cucumbers. Moderate levels are reported in watermelon and bean fields.
Scouts are reporting low population levels of whitefly in tomatoes along the east coast and low to moderate levels in eggplant.
It is different in southwest Florida, however. Populations are reported as low high in tomatoes, with tomato yellow leaf curl virus identified across ages and varieties of tomatoes across the region. Population levels were also observed to be low to high in watermelon, depending on location. Virus levels are expected to rise.
High population levels were reported in cucumber, squash, potato and a few pepper locations, and low to medium levels seen in beans.
In Homestead, it is reported that silver leaf virus and mosaic damage from whitefly at the edges of some older squash fields. Whitefly populations have led to an increase in virus in susceptible varieties in tomato.