Lygus lineolaris
| Tarnished Plant Bug | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Binomial: | Lygus lineolaris |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Metamorphosis: | simple |
| Diseases vectored: | Some viral diseases |
The Tarnished Plant Bug is a serious pest of both food crops and ornamentals, with a wide range of hosts and capable of causing considerable damage.
Symptoms and Signs
Buds and terminal branches often become yellowed, wilted, or aborted due to heavy sap feeding.
Host plants
Affected genera include but are not limited to the following:
- Amaranthus (Amaranth)
- Apium
- Armoracia (Horseradish)
- Asparagus
- Aster
- Astilbe
- Beta (Beet)
- Brassica (Coles)
- Capsicum (Pepper)
- Chenopodium
- Chrysanthemum
- Cichorium
- Citrullus (Watermelon)
- Conyza (Horseweed)
- Coriandrum (Coriander, Cilantro)
- Cucumis (Cucumber, Melon)
- Cucurbita (Squash)
- Cynara (Artichoke)
- Dahlia
- Daucus ( Carrot)
- Erogeron (Fleabane)
- Foeniculum (Fennel)
- Fragaria (Strawberry)
- Glycine (Soybean)
- Gossypium (Cotton)
- Helianthus (Sunflower)
- Hydrangea
- Impatiens
- Ipomoea (Morning Glory, Sweet Potato)
- Lactuca (Lettuce)
- Laryx (Larch)
- Lycopersicon (Tomato)
- Malus (Apple)
- Medicago (Medic, Alfalfa)
- Papaver (Poppy)
- Pastinaca (Parsnip)
- Petroselinum (Parsley)
- Phaseolus (Bean)
- Phlox
- Picea (Spruce)
- Pinus (Pine)
- Pisum (Pea)
- Prunus (Stone Fruits)
- Pseudostuga (Douglassfir)
- Pyrus (Pear)
- Raphanus (Radish)
- Rubus (Bramble)
- Rudbeckia (Coneflower)
- Rumex (Dock)
- Salvia (Sage)
- Solanum (Nightshades)
- Solidago (Goldenrod)
- Spinacia (Spinach)
- Tagetes (Marigold)
- Trifolium (Clover)
- Verbena
- Viburnum
- Vicia (Vetch)
- Vigna
- Zea (Corn)
- Zinnia
Control
- Cultural controls: Do not mow weedy areas while susceptible fruit plants are flowering, to avoid the pest migrating from weeds to garden plants.
- Pesticides: Fenvalerate
- Organic pesticides: Neem Oil
- Predators and parasites: Anaphis iole (eggs), Leiophron uniformis (nymphs), Peristenus pallipes (nymphs) Peristenus pseudopallipes (nymphs), and Peristenus digoneutis