Whiteflies are an important pest complex that is threatening food security in the United States and Worldwide. Several cryptic species of the complex can interact in a multitude of ways with their hosts, pathogens they transmit, and to the management strategies adopted. In the United States, the biotype A used to be the most common cryptic species. However, that has been displaced by an invasive cryptic species (MEAM 1/ biotype B). MEAM 1 has proved to be a formidable pest, it readily colonizes several row and vegetable crops, and causes injuries by direct feeding. In addition, MEAM 1 has been very adept at transmitting plant viruses. Since the introduction of the MEAM1 cryptic species in the United States, the number of persistent and semi-persistent plant viruses transmitted by whiteflies has been increasing steadily, and some have already become chronic issues. The losses caused easily exceed hundreds of millions of dollars annually. We are at an inflection point; if whiteflies and whitefly-transmitted viruses are not managed effectively, they could make a serious dent in vegetable production in the United States. In realization of this need, a concerted effort is being undertaken with multi-state involvement to develop risk management strategies and evaluate effective management tactics. In addition, a number of macro and micro aspects pertaining to whitefly biology, ecology, virus transmission, virus ecology, and virus epidemics are unclear. This proposed member symposium would serve as an exhibition of that concerted effort to combat whiteflies in the United States.
