The anthurium whitefly,Aleurotulus anthuricolaNakahara, completed its life cycle within the inner surface of anthurium sheaths. The entire life cycle from egg to adult was 35.5 ± 1.2 days. Tests indicated that systemic insecticides were more effective than contact insecticides. Under greenhouse conditions the systemic insecticides, methomyl 1.8 L and dimethoate 4.0 EC, significantly reduced eggs, nymphs, pupae, and adult whiteflies. The contact synthetic pyrethroid, fenpropathrin, 2.4 EC, also reduced all stages of the whitefly but was not as effective as the systemic insecticides. The contact insecticides, malathion, 5.0 EC was only effective against adult and pupal stages and bifenthrin 10 WP was effective only against the adult stage of the whitefly. In field trials, methomyl 1.8 L and acephate 75 SP, both systemic insecticides, significantly reduced nymphs and pupal stages of the whitefly. Eggs were also significantly reduced in acephate 75 SP‐treated plots.