Lygus Bugs
Lygus
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Heteroptera
- Infraorder: Cimicomorpha
- Superfamily: Miroidea
- Family: Miridae
- Subfamily: Mirinae
- Tribe: Mirini
- Genus: Lygus
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lygus: /ˈlaɪɡəs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
The genus Lygus includes over 31 species of plant-feeding bugs known as lygus bugs, which are important agricultural pests due to their feeding habits on a diverse range of crops.
Physical Characteristics
Adults are approximately 3 mm wide and 6 mm long, colored in a range from pale green to reddish-brown or black. They can be solid shaded or mottled, with a distinctive triangle or V-shape on their backs. Nymphs are light green and wingless; they gain black dorsal spots as they age.
Identification Tips
Look for the characteristic V-shaped mark on the scutellum and mottled coloration. Nymphs may be mistaken for aphids but have a harder exoskeleton and lack cornicles.
Habitat
Found in fields, ground cover, or low shrubs in deciduous woodlands.
Distribution
Over 31 species in North America with a total of >180 species worldwide; commonly found across North America from northern Canada to southern Mexico.
Diet
Lygus bugs are sap feeders that puncture plant tissues and suck sap, feeding on a variety of crops and other plants.
Life Cycle
Overwinter as adults under fallen leaves or ground cover; typically one generation per year in the far north and several in the south.
Reproduction
Females insert their eggs directly into plant tissues using piercing ovipositors.
Predators
Parasitoids like wasps from the genus Peristenus are known to attack lygus bugs.
Ecosystem Role
They play a role in agricultural ecosystems as plant pests, impacting crop health.
Economic Impact
Significant agricultural pests that affect over half of all commercially grown crop plants, notably cotton, alfalfa, and a variety of fruits; some species are very serious pests.
Collecting Methods
- Sweep nets
- Hand collection
- Malaise traps
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol preservation
- Dry storage
Evolution
Formerly classified with nearly 200 species; many have since been reclassified into different genera.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Nymphs are often mistaken for aphids due to their size and color but can be distinguished by their activity levels and lack of cornicles.
Tags
- Lygus
- agricultural pest
- plant bugs
- Miridae