Population studies of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, carried out in the field indicated that whiteflies were present in cassava all year round and that there were marked seasonal fluctuations in the population levels. Possible explanations for these fluctuations are discussed. It was found that the interaction of atmospheric temperature and relative humidity was highly correlated (r = 0.924) with the development of the whitefly. Results of the studies suggested that rainfall has an indirect effect on whitefly population. Whether B. tabaci behaves in the same way in mixed cropping system has not yet been established.
