The insecticidal activities of four surfactants (Cide-kick, Silwet L-77, M-Pede and APSA-80), a dishwashing detergent (New Day), a mineral oil (Sunspray oil), a cotton seed oil and a vegetable oil, alone or in combination, were tested against nymphs of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring on collards and tomato. Silwet L-77 was more effective (b95% mortality) than Cide-Kick or APSA-80 at rates from 0.25±1.00 g AI litre À1 but caused severe phytotoxicity to tender tomato leaves at all but the lowest rate. New Day dish detergent at 2.0 ml litre À1 caused mortality (95%) comparable to M-Pede insecticide soap at 10-fold greater concentration. A New Day ingredient, cocamide DEA, was considerably more active than the other ingredients or the commercial mixture. Additional surfactants added to Sunspray oil increased ef®cacy in some treatments, but not others. Toxic responses of 2ndand 3rd-instar white¯ies to vegetable oil and cotton seed oil at 5.0 and 10.0 ml litre À1 plus 0.4 g AI litre À1 APSA-80 ranged from 22.1 to 79.9% and 66.3±88.7% mortality, respectively. White¯y mortality was greater on tomato than on collard in six of seven instances when differences between host plants were signi®cant. Our results indicate that the these surfactants and oils have good potential for controlling B argentifolii.