What to observe

• Clusters of soft-bodied insects in protected plant areas
• Sticky honeydew on leaves or surfaces
• White cast skins that remain after molting
• Curling or distorted young growth in feeding areas

Common look-alikes

• Whitefly nymphs or cast material
• Scale-like debris
• Physiological leaf curl
• Residue mistaken for shed skins

Evidence that improves confirmation

• Identify living insects under magnification
• Check stems, petioles, growing points, and leaf undersides
• Record colony locations and repeat counts

Risk context

• Dense growth can conceal colonies
• Winged forms can disperse from established populations
• Incoming plant material is a common biosecurity concern

Management principles

• Inspect and quarantine incoming material
• Remove heavily colonized plant debris where practical
• Protect beneficial organisms when using controls
• Use only lawful, label-compliant controls and confirm declining counts over time

Keep the conclusion proportional to the evidence

Use a confirmed identification when available. When evidence is incomplete, label the conclusion as a suspicion or differential rather than presenting it as proven.

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