Tarnished Plant Bug

Lygus lineolaris

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Cimicomorpha
Superfamily: Miroidea
Family: Miridae
Subfamily: Mirinae
Tribe: Mirini
Genus: Lygus
Species: lineolaris

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lygus lineolaris: /ˈlaɪɡəs lɪniˈoʊlərɪs/

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Summary

Lygus lineolaris, or Tarnished Plant Bug, is a highly polyphagous pest that affects a wide variety of crops across North America, particularly known for its piercing-sucking feeding behavior and significant economic impact on agriculture.

Physical Characteristics

Adult length: ♂ 3.7‒4.6 mm, ♀ 3.8‒5.0 mm, brown with accents of yellow, orange or red, light-colored 'V' on the back (dorsal).

Identification Tips

Adults can be identified by their size and coloration, specifically the light-colored 'V' on the dorsal side.

Habitat

Fields, gardens, meadows, leaf litter and understorey of woodlands/parks.

Distribution

Throughout North America, from northern Canada to southern Mexico, most common in the eastern half of North America.

Diet

Feeds on cotton, soybean, alfalfa, beans, stone fruits, conifer seedlings, and over 50 other cultivated and wild plants.

Life Cycle

Eggs hatch in 10‒21 days; nymphs develop through 5 instars in about 3 weeks; summer life cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 4 weeks; 3 generations per year in the north, more in the south.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in cotton plants in May; nymphs begin to develop around June. Highest population levels are observed in October and June.

Predators

Pisaurina mira (nursery web spider) preys on Lygus lineolaris.

Ecosystem Role

This species acts as a herbivore impacting commercially grown crops, making it a significant agricultural pest.

Economic Impact

Considered a serious pest on small fruits and vegetables; significant crop losses due to its feeding.

Collecting Methods

Sticky traps
Sweep nets
Bed sheet traps

Evolution

Genome has recently been sequenced for the first time, indicating ongoing studies into genetic diversity across populations.