The cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a serious pest of fibre, horticultural and ornamental crops world wide. When present in sufficient numbers, it can cause extensive damage through direct feeding, the production of large quantities of honeydew and as a vector of many viruses. Australia has a native strain of Bemisia tabaci. but in 1994, recently, a new biotype, known as the B-type or poinsettia strain was found in Australia. Overseas, B-type B. tabaci is a primary pest on cotton, vegetable crops (curcubits, tomatoes, rock melons) and ornamentals. This strain is extremely virulent, highly insecticide resistant, adapts to temperate climates and has a host range of over 500 plants. A nation-wide survey has now shown that this whitefly is widely distributed over eastern Queensland and NSW and the Darwin area of the NT .