Whitefly Populations Update Across Southern Florida

Whitefly populations remain high in some areas across southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline.

In central Florida, scouts are reporting low to moderate population levels in tomatoes and moderate to high levels in squash and cucumbers. Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus incidence remains a little more than 1%.

Whitefly populations vary by crop and location in southwest Florida. They range from low to moderate in tomatoes, moderate in eggplant and moderate to high in watermelons. High population levels have been observed in squash and cucumbers, while only occasional whiteflies have been seen in peppers and green beans. Other observations indicate populations are holding steady, with nymphs present and heavy rainfall reduced numbers.

In the Everglades Agricultural Area, scouts report low but increasing levels in green beans.

Along the east coast, whitefly populations are mostly low in beans and are low but increasing in squash. Population levels in tomatoes dropped over the past week.

Scouts in Homestead have observed whiteflies in tomatoes, squash and beans.