• Question: What is so dangerous about whiteflies and where are they located in the world?

    Asked by S.Hartley to Beccy on 19 Jun 2017.
    • Photo: Rebecca Corkill

      Rebecca Corkill answered on 19 Jun 2017:

      The whitefly I study is called Bemisia tabaci. They are dangerous to humans, as they can pass on diseases to plants. These infected plants are not good for human consumption.
      With the growing population, ensuring a high yield of crops are vital. In some areas of the world, whiteflies have caused mass damages to farms, and have caused an economic and food crisis.
      They are located on all continents except for Antartica. Luckily, at the moment, the UK is classed as a protected zone, and a lot of work is being conducted to make sure they do not spread to the UK.

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