Citrus Whitefly vs Dock Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Citrus Whitefly Dock Sawfly
Scientific Name Dialeurodes citri Ametastegia glabrata
Order Hemiptera Hymenoptera
Family Aleyrodidae Tenthredinidae
Size 1-2 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Orchards Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Asia (native), North America, Europe, Africa (introduced) Europe, introduced to North America
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.

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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.

Dock Sawfly

A small, shiny dark green to black sawfly with pale legs. Larvae are pale green caterpillar-like grubs that feed on dock and sorrel leaves.

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Did You Know?

In North America, dock sawfly larvae sometimes bore into apples to pupate, making them a nuisance pest in orchards despite not actually feeding on the fruit.