Silverleaf whitefly deaths in Georgia cotton likely fungal relatedSilverleaf whitefly deaths in Georgia cotton likely fungal related

In the last 10 to 14 days, several of you have called about dead adult silverleaf whitefly adults in cotton.  Many of these observations have been in untreated fields. 

We are not 100 percent of the causal agent, but we suspect the mortality to be due to an entomopathogenic fungi. We have forwarded samples of these dead whiteflies to persons with expertise on entomopathogenic fungal identification.  We have also seen some sporulation on immatures. 

To date, we are not aware of any field where the population has completely crashed, just be thankful there is some natural mortality.  Keep scouting and be timely when insecticides are needed.