what are tiny white flies

Tiny white flies are sap-sucking insects that can become abundant in vegetable and ornamental plantings, especially during warm weather. Despite their name, whiteflies are not true flies but are in the order Hemiptera, related to aphids, scales, and mealybugs. They are about 1/10 to 1/16 inch long and look like tiny moths with four whitish wings covered with a white powdery wax. Whiteflies normally lay their tiny oblong eggs on the undersides of leaves, and the young whiteflies gradually increase in size through four nymphal stages called instars. Whiteflies can cause leaf damage and stunted growth by extracting plant sap, and they secrete a sticky substance known as honeydew, which promotes fungal diseases such as black sooty mold. Whiteflies can be controlled by washing them off with a sharp spray of water, using natural enemies such as lacewings or parasitic wasps, or using insecticidal soap. Vacuuming them with a small, hand-held vacuum cleaner can also help control whiteflies.