The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, can cause significant melon crop losses and result in excessive insecticide use. Adults and nymphs feed on the undersides of melon leaves by inserting their piercing/sucking mouthparts into vascular tissue and extracting plant juices that will reduce fruit quantity and size. Image and article by: John C. Palumbo, Associate Research Scientist of vegetable crops at the University of Arizona’s Yuma Agricultural Extension Center.
