citrus whitefly
- noun
- /ˈsɪtrəs ˈwaɪtˌflaɪ/
- Specialized
:
mosca blanca de los cítricos
- Infestation by the citrus whitefly leads to the yellowing and dropping of leaves on citrus plants.
Examples
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Farmers often use natural predators to keep the citrus whitefly population in check.
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The citrus whitefly can cause significant damage to orange groves if not controlled.
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The citrus whitefly infested my orange tree.
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Many citrus whiteflies can weaken a citrus plant.
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Farmers often use natural predators to keep the citrus whitefly population in check.
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Infestation by the citrus whitefly leads to the yellowing and dropping of leaves on citrus plants.
-
The citrus whitefly can cause significant damage to orange groves if not controlled.
Synonyms
A small white insect that lives on and damages orange and lemon trees
How Damaging
- Specialized
68
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'citrus' names the host plant group and 'whitefly' names a specific pest insect, so the meaning simply denotes a whitefly associated with citrus trees. A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can readily infer it refers to a small pest affecting citrus plants, and this noun-noun naming pattern is common cross-linguistically.
Etymology
Citrus whitefly names the insect very simply: a small, pale whitefly that lives on citrus trees and feeds on their leaves. Because these tiny white insects often cover leaves and make them yellow and weak, the name helps you remember it is a pest of 'citrus' plants.