Whitefly vs Koa Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Whitefly Koa Bug
Scientific Name Bemisia tabaci Coleotichus blackburniae
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Aleyrodidae Scutelleridae
Size 1-1.5 mm 15-20 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Sap Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Cosmopolitan in warm regions Hawaii
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

Whitefly

A tiny sap-sucking insect that transmits over 100 plant viruses worldwide. It is one of the most destructive agricultural pests in tropical and subtropical regions.

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Did You Know?

It is actually a complex of over 40 cryptic species that are morphologically nearly identical.

Koa Bug

A colorful jewel bug endemic to Hawaii with metallic green, gold, and red coloring. It feeds on koa and other native trees.

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Did You Know?

Invasive parasitoid wasps have drastically reduced its numbers across the Hawaiian Islands.