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Viburnum whitefly (Aleurotuba jelinekii)
A common sap-feeding pest on laurustinus (Viburnum tinus).
Plants affected
Viburnum tinus, but not other Viburnum species, and strawberry tree, Arbutus species.
Symptoms
Look for white-winged insects 1-2mm long on the underside of leaves in mid summer. More noticeable at other times is the overwintering pupal stage. These are raised, oval, black objects encrusted with a white waxy substance (right). They are 1mm long and can be found on the lower leaf surface. Heavy infestation may result in sooty mould developing on the upper leaf surface where the insect's sugary excrement (honeydew) has accumulated.
Biology
Viburnum whitefly has one generation a year. Adults emerge in early summer and lay eggs on the underside of the new leaves. The yellowish-green scale-like nymphs suck sap from the underside of the leaves from mid to late summer. The final nymphal (pupal) stage is black with white encrustations and is present during autumn to spring.
Control
Light infestations can be tolerated as this whitefly causes little direct damage to its host plants. If sooty mould becomes a problem, spray the undersides of the leaves with imidacloprid + sunflower oil (Provado Ultimate Bug Killer Concentrate), thiacloprid (Provado Ultimate Bug Killer Ready To Use),acetamiprid (Scotts Bug Clear Ultra) or bifenthrin (Scotts Bug Clear Gun, Doff All in One Garden Pest Killer or Bayer Sprayday Greenfly Killer Plus).