Whiteflies do pupate. During that stage of their life, they look very similar to a scale insect in that they are attached to the leaf surface. That said, they are often translucent or nearly so. But, as has been said, Jan's critters are true flies of the order Diptera. Then, too, the pupae of moths (order Lepidoptera) are quite different than flies. Jean in Portland, OR -----Original Message----- From: Adam Fikso <adam14113@ameritech.net> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 7:16 pm Subject: Re: [pbs] iris fly? possible identification. If whitefly does not pupate--how come there is a title: Whitefly Pupae of the World-- noting 31 genera? I suspect that the term "whitefly" is one of those all-embracing common names that taxes taxonomists. ----- Original Message ----- From: <puppincuff@cox.net> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 8:01 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] iris fly? possible identification. > What you have is a leaf miner, either a moth or a fly. I coudn't tell more > from your picture. White flies do not pupate (incomplete metamorphosis) > and are in the family Homoptera, which includes scale insects and mealy > bugs. You can cure the latter, leafminers are unreachable. > ---- garrapat@ix.netcom.com wrote: >> On Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:59:39 -0500, you wrote: >> >> > >> >Dear Janos. The pupa in the size and description you offer fits the >> >description of whitefly (Aleyrodes spiraedides) >> >> Whiteflies are not flies(Diptera) but Hemiptera and are suckers not >> borers.