Lygus bug and plant bug
Lygus spp.
0 host plants
Last updated
You will see small brown or tan bugs with piercing-sucking mouthparts on flower buds, shoots, and young fruit from April through summer. Feeding causes brown pits and deformed fruit; blossoms abort. Nymphs are smaller and pale. Both adults and nymphs inject toxins while feeding that kill plant cells. These generalist pests attack dozens of plant species across the landscape.
Scout bloom-stage plantings for lygus and monitor ground cover. Remove weeds that harbor lygus like mustards and lambsquarters. Reserve spraying for pre-bloom or delayed-dormant stages if prior damage occurred. Promote lacewings, damsel bugs, and parasitic wasps by planting diverse cover crops.
Quick Reference
Adult lygus bugs are oval, about 0.19 inch in length with a light yellow 'V' on the back. There are three species that attack tree fruits and the body color may be green or brown. The bugs feed on developing leaves, flowers and fruit. Most fruit damage occurs shortly after bloom on fruitlets. Dimpling and deep pitting of fruit are indications of early feeding damage. Cat-facing damage is a fruit deformity that occurs when cells surrounding the dead cells at the feeding site continue to grow as...
Cultural Controls
- -cultural control Establishment and maintenance of a weed-free orchard groundcover will deter Lygus bugs.
- A sod groundcover that is mowed regularly will minimize Lygus bug activity within the orchard.
- Eliminate border habitat or target management on border rows.
- Hand-thin damaged fruit.
- Management-