The silverleaf whitefly (SLW) was first discovered in Australia in 1994. At the

commencement of the project(July 1998)it occurred in all cotton areas, where it was readily found on a range of ornamental plants in nurseries. In the field in Queensland during 1996/97 - 1997/98 it was found sporadically in very low numbers in towns in cotton areas, but not in cotton fields. It is a significant pest of cotton in other countries including the USA where production losses in some areas have averaged about 20%. A computer model(Climex) analysis of its potential geographic distribution in Australia indicated that the cotton areas of Queensland should be highly suitable environments for this pest.

The SLW is characterised by an exceptionally wide host range, a high rate of reproduction and a capacity to detoxify both natural and synthetic xenobiotics, making it resistant to many insecticides.

Apart from the issues surrounding insecticidal control and insecticide resistance management, the other major considerations in silverleaf whitefly management and development of ERM strategies are cultural control, the use of natural enemies and host-plant resistance. an important issue in cultural control is the influence of alternative crops and weed hosts (particularly overwintering hosts) on whitefly population development.

The tritrophic interactions of whiteflies, host plant and beneficials have to be considered in assessing the role of the two other relatively innocuous whiteflies in the cotton system, the greenhouse whitefly and the indigenous B. tabci.