Microorganisms influence the composition of honeydew produced by the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii

Sugars in the honeydew produced by the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii, and in fermentation of sucrose using homogenates of these insects were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results suggest that the unusual disaccharide, trehalulose, found in large quantity in honeydew of B. argentifolii, is produced by obligate intracellular microorganisms residing in this insect's mycetomes. Some larger oligosaccharides in this honeydew may be produced by certain Bacillus spp. residing in or on the insects but these bacteria are not involved in an obligate relationship with the whitefly.