ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introduction to whiteflies. Whiteflies are tiny sucking insects with a polyphagous nature, belonging to order Hemiptera. The preliminary information on its identification and feeding mechanism is presented. This chapter also details how the whitefly is found in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions and spreads through air currents and due to human activity. The whitefly sucks the sap and exudes honeydew through a vasiform orifice located on the dorsum of 8th and 9th abdominal segments. For feeding, the whiteflies are attracted to the color yellow and make use of visual, olfactory, and gustatory cues. With regard to feeding, these insects feed on phloem, accessed through the stylet, which takes 15 to 30 minutes to reach it. While initiating feeding, the insect releases saliva to facilitate the penetration of stylets. The whiteflies, suck the sap, secrete honeydew and make the substratum suitable for the development of black sooty mold. Despite the difficulty in the study of taxonomy, more than 1,556 species of whiteflies have been identified. The identification is based on 4th instar nymph (red- eye nymph). The adult has two pairs of wings equal in size but devoid of wing venation and seven-segmented antennae. Zonotrichia and sensilla on the antennae perform the olfactory and hygroreceptory functions. This chapter details how whiteflies outbreaks have been widespread in the recent past. Taking into account its fast-spreading capability, the scientific community has predicted that there will be devastation in the crop agroecosystem due to this pest in the future.
