Citrus Whitefly vs Cinnamon Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Citrus Whitefly Cinnamon Bug
Scientific Name Dialeurodes citri Corizus hyoscyami
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Aleyrodidae Rhopalidae
Size 1-2 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Orchards Beaches & Coastal
Diet Herbivores Seed Feeders
Regions Asia (native), North America, Europe, Africa (introduced) Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Citrus Whitefly

A small white-winged whitefly that is a common pest of citrus trees. Adults gather on the undersides of leaves, and heavy infestations promote sooty mold growth from honeydew.

💡

Did You Know?

It was one of the first insects to be successfully controlled by classical biological control, using the parasitoid wasp Encarsia lahorensis imported from Asia.

Cinnamon Bug

A bright red-and-black scentless plant bug that mimics fire bugs and other aposematic insects. Despite its warning coloration, it is harmless and feeds on the seeds of various weedy plants.

💡

Did You Know?

It is often mistaken for the unrelated fire bug due to its similar red-and-black pattern, a likely case of Mullerian mimicry.