Campylomma verbasci

(Meyer-Dür, 1843)

mullein bug

Campylomma verbasci, commonly known as the mullein , is a plant bug in the Miridae. It is a -phytophage that functions as a agent in orchards, feeding primarily on pear psylla (Psylla pyricola) and European red mite (Panonychus ulmi). The overwinters as on woody including apple, pear, Rosa spp., and Amelanchier sp., then completes two to four annually depending on region. disperse to herbaceous plants, particularly common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), during summer months before returning to orchards in autumn. It has been studied extensively for -based , representing the first documented case of such control in Heteroptera.

Campylomma verbasci (Miridae) - (imago), Nijmegen, the Netherlands by

This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Waarneming.nl, a source of nature observations in the Netherlands.
. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Campylomma verbasci (Miridae) - (imago), Nijmegen, the Netherlands - 2 by

This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Waarneming.nl, a source of nature observations in the Netherlands.
. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Campylomma verbasci (Miridae) - (imago), Molenhoek, the Netherlands by

This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Waarneming.nl, a source of nature observations in the Netherlands.
. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Campylomma verbasci: /ˌkæmpɪˈlɒmə vɜrˈbæsˌsi/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Apple and pear orchards; overwinters as on woody including apple, pear, Rosa spp., and Amelanchier sp. move to herbaceous plants during summer, with common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) serving as a principal seasonal host. Distributed in an aggregated pattern on mullein plants, with abundance correlated to plant height, raceme length, and flower number.

Distribution

Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China); North America including Canada (British Columbia, southern interior), and United States (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nebraska, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin). Also recorded from Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, and Puerto Rico.

Seasonality

Nymphs emerge from overwintered near full bloom of apple (timing varies between orchards and years). Two to three per year in Okanagan Valley apple orchards; three to possibly four generations in southern interior of British Columbia. move to herbaceous in June; numbers decline on mullein and increase on apple from mid-August to October.

Diet

: and nymphs of Psylla pyricola (pear psylla), all stages of Panonychus ulmi (European red mite). Partially phytophagous: feeds on pear fruits and herbaceous plants including common mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Laboratory studies indicate young nymphs can be reared on two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae).

Host Associations

Malus pumila - , principal hostapple
Pyrus communis - , principal hostpear
Rosa spp. -
Amelanchier sp. - serviceberry
Verbascum thapsus - seasonal herbaceous common mullein; two occur here during summer
Solanum melongena - laboratory eggplant cv. 'Black Beauty'
Psylla pyricola - preypear psylla
Panonychus ulmi - preyEuropean red mite
Tetranychus urticae - laboratory preytwo-spotted spider mite; used to rear young nymphs in colony

Life Cycle

Overwinters as on woody . Egg development: 7.2 days at 27°C to 13.0 days at 20°C; estimated developmental threshold 9.5°C. Nymphal development at 22°C: five instars requiring 2.8, 3.8, 4.0, 3.9, and 6.0 days respectively (total ~20.5 days). lifespan: females live 17.4±0.8 days at 25°C. : 6.7±0.6 nymphs per 48-hour oviposition period, peaking at days 6–10, declining after day 16; lifetime production averages 37.5±8.2 nymphs (range 2–184).

Behavior

Males orient to blend of 16:1 butyl butyrate:crotyl butyrate. Exhibits seasonal switching: from woody orchard hosts to herbaceous plants in early summer, returning to orchards in late summer. Aggregated distribution pattern on mullein plants. Prolonged nymph feeding on pear fruits causes no injury despite phytophagous capacity.

Ecological Role

of pear psylla and spider mites in pear orchards, functioning as a agent. densities higher in unsprayed versus sprayed orchards, though no difference observed between commercial and organic management. Partially phytophagous habit may contribute to plant-herbivore dynamics on seasonal .

Human Relevance

Agricultural pest management: studied for -based , the first reported case in Heteroptera. Monitoring conducted with pheromone-baited open-wing traps at 1.5 m height. Susceptible to applied in pear orchards; effects documented for various compounds. Potential beneficial role in of pear orchards through on economically important pests.

More Details

Pheromone composition

identified as 16:1 blend of butyl butyrate (BB) and 2(E)-crotyl butyrate (CB); single components ineffective for .

Mating disruption efficacy

Atmospheric permeation with complete blend reduced male trap catches to 3% of control levels; dispenser densities of 250–1000 per hectare tested, with lowest catches at highest .

Sampling methodology

Nymph distribution on apple assessed for developing monitoring protocols; specific sampling methods compared in published studies.