How to Use whitefly in a Sentence

whitefly

noun
  • The adult stage of whiteflies look like moths and are 1/16-inch long.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Controls Start with a good blast from the hose to get rid of whiteflies.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2024
  • In return, the strong scent of basil helps control pests, such as whiteflies and thrips.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The wasp lays its eggs on young whiteflies, which are eaten by hatching larvae.
    — Sindya N. Bhanoo, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2016
  • Basil is also known to deter aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Basil is also known to deter aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026
  • These predators feed on aphids, whiteflies, insect eggs, and other pests.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
  • This treatment should also help avoid mealybugs, mites, thrips, and whiteflies.
    — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 June 2023
  • Tens of millions of years ago, a tiny, milky-white bug known as a whitefly snatched a gene from its host, an ancient plant.
    — Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2022
  • Populations of whiteflies are up to no good sucking juices from leaves and stems of your blue daze plants.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
  • Aphids, whiteflies, and even some beetles rely on visual cues to locate plants.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The worm castings help the plant fight off giant whitefly invasion.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Common pests on indoor plants include fungus gnats, thrips, and whiteflies.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Common pests like aphids and whiteflies are turned away by the aromatic natural oils in basil.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
  • White traps lure whiteflies, plant bugs, cucumber beetles, and flea beetles.
    — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, 18 Dec. 2017
  • Aphids, whiteflies and hornworms are among the most common pests attracted to tomato plants.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Spray off whiteflies and aphids using a sharp stream of water with a Bug Blaster hose end nozzle.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • Spray whiteflies and aphids off with a sharp stream of water using a Bug Blaster hose end nozzle.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2023
  • Spray whiteflies and aphids off with a sharp stream of water using a Bug Blaster hose end nozzle.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2024
  • Try planting marigolds, which have a potent scent that repels nematodes, aphids and whiteflies.
    — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2024
  • Flea beetles and whiteflies can attack, especially if the plants are drought-stressed.
    — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 31 July 2018
  • It is also thought that the pungent aroma of basil leaves may help to deter pests such as whiteflies, aphids, and hornworms.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Planted near celery, mint deters pests like whiteflies, flea beetles, aphids, deer, and rabbits.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
  • These sprays are great for controlling mites, aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and hard scale insects.
    — Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024
  • Many herbs also attract whiteflies, which will then infest your cucumbers.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • Many herbs also attract whiteflies, which will then infest your cucumbers.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Pothos grown as houseplants can be infested with spider mites or whiteflies, which can cause yellowing or pale leaves.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Basil is also known to deter aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies and reduce egg-laying by armyworms.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 June 2024
  • Basil is also known to deter aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies and reduce egg-laying by armyworms.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
  • These annuals bloom in mid-spring through late summer and deter aphids, whiteflies and tomato hornworms.
    — Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whitefly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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