pests-ipm
Whiteflies – Photo Protocol
Whiteflies are sap-feeding pests that cause yellowing, honeydew contamination, and rapid spread when scouting and suppression lag. This page emphasizes Photo Protocol decision support for cannabis cultivation.
Definition
Whiteflies – Photo Protocol
Whiteflies are sap-feeding pests that cause yellowing, honeydew contamination, and rapid spread when scouting and suppression lag. This page emphasizes Photo Protocol decision support for cannabis cultivation.
Why this matters: Use this page to compare lookalikes, verify visual patterns, and choose the safest next checks before changing inputs.
Symptom checklist
- • Tiny white adults fly up when foliage is disturbed.
- • Honeydew and sooty mold can appear in persistent infestations.
- • Leaf yellowing and reduced vigor increase over time.
- • Undersides of leaves hold eggs and immature stages.
- • Pressure can climb quickly in warm, protected environments.
- • Photo quality determines triage accuracy; capture evidence before intervention.
Likely causes
- • Weak quarantine and delayed hotspot suppression.
- • Insufficient underside scouting and lifecycle-stage monitoring.
- • Inadequate sanitation around ingress and crop movement.
Visual reference gallery
Hero reference for Whiteflies – Photo Protocol
Credit: BudGuard visual-library-v1 handoff
Closeup reference 1 for Whiteflies – Photo Protocol
Credit: BudGuard visual-library-v1 handoff
Closeup reference 2 for Whiteflies – Photo Protocol
Credit: BudGuard visual-library-v1 handoff
Pattern diagram for Whiteflies – Photo Protocol
Credit: BudGuard visual-library-v1 handoff
Confirm steps
- • Check underside leaves for eggs and nymph stages.
- • Track sticky-card pressure trends by room and row.
- • Capture close-up evidence of adults and feeding impact.
- • Reject blurred or heavily filtered images and re-capture before final labeling.
What to do now
- • Suppress hotspots quickly with stage-safe controls.
- • Remove heavily affected tissue where practical.
- • Increase scouting frequency until counts stabilize.
Prevention
- • Strong intake quarantine and routine trap reviews.
- • Weekly underside scouting with documented counts.
- • Sanitation discipline on tools and movement pathways.
Lookalikes and how to tell
- aphids: Compare symptom location, speed of progression, and tissue type before selecting a likely cause.
- thrips: Compare symptom location, speed of progression, and tissue type before selecting a likely cause.
- nitrogen: Compare symptom location, speed of progression, and tissue type before selecting a likely cause.
- heat stress: Compare symptom location, speed of progression, and tissue type before selecting a likely cause.
FAQ
What is the first thing to check?
Verify the strongest visible pattern and where it starts (new growth, old leaves, canopy zone, or root zone).
What if multiple causes seem possible?
Run lookalike checks and prioritize the fastest, lowest-risk confirmations before changing feed or environment.
When should I upload photos?
Upload when the pattern is unclear or mixed so you can get evidence-quality feedback plus the most relevant guides and compare links.
Reference tables
Measurement notes
| Metric | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Use pH and EC trend checks for root-zone interpretation. | Use pH and EC trend checks for root-zone interpretation. |
| Use PPFD/DLI mapping for top-canopy stress cases. | Use PPFD/DLI mapping for top-canopy stress cases. |
| Track temperature and RH trends by lights-on/off phase. | Track temperature and RH trends by lights-on/off phase. |
Source: BudGuard guide synthesis
Stage notes
- Seedling: If seen in seedlings, prioritize gentle corrections and close monitoring.
- Veg: Veg stage benefits from repeat observation to confirm progression direction.
- Flower: Flower stage requires balancing correction speed with quality protection.
- Drying: For post-harvest stages, use strict handling and spacing controls.
Medium notes
- Soil: Watch dry-back consistency and root-zone aeration.
- Coco: Track fertigation rhythm and runoff trend stability.
- Hydro: Prioritize reservoir hygiene and oxygenation stability.
- AutoPot: Verify valve behavior, filtration, and line balance.
- Living soil: Avoid abrupt chemistry swings and maintain moisture rhythm.
What to measure
- • Use pH and EC trend checks for root-zone interpretation.
- • Use PPFD/DLI mapping for top-canopy stress cases.
- • Track temperature and RH trends by lights-on/off phase.
Evidence and references
Official docs
Community methods
- • BuildASoil — Operational context (00:00:00-00:03:30)
- • MrGrowIt — Field observations (00:00:00-00:03:30)
Related guides
Glossary
BudGuard provides educational support only, not diagnosis.
Photo recommendations
- • Close-up of primary symptom texture with sharp focus.
- • Underside or interior view when relevant to differential diagnosis.
- • Mid-range branch or cola context around affected tissue.
- • Whole-plant image showing spread pattern and canopy position.
- • Repeat image set after 24-48 hours from the same angles.