Tarnished Plant Bug
Beginner
Scientific Name
Lygus lineolaris
Identification
- Adult bugs have a characteristic shiny yellow to brown-black appearance with a distinctive triangular pattern on their backs
- They are about 5 mm (3/16”) long
- Nymphs are green and progress through five instars before moulting to adults
- Symptoms on peppers include reduced fruit set and stings on fruit
Often Confused With
Aphids
Stink bug
Period of Activity
The tarnished plant bug is a sporadic pest, present in Ontario throughout the growing season. In peppers, they are of concern when blossoms or fruit are present. They may move into pepper fields when surrounding vegetation dries up or after nearby cereal or forage harvest.
Scouting Notes
Inspect the fruit for damage. You may find nymphs by shaking the foliage onto a light-coloured surface. Adults move very quickly.
Thresholds
None established.
Advanced
Scientific Name
Lygus lineolaris
Tarnished plant bugs have a large host range. They are known to attack over 270 different plant species. Certain weeds are a preferred habitat for this insect. It can commonly be found on members of the mint family, chickweed, pigweed and alfalfa.
Identification
Adult bugs have a characteristic shiny yellow to brown-black appearance with a distinctive triangular pattern on their backs. They are about 5 mm (3/16 in.) long. Nymphs are green in colour and resemble aphids. Nymphs progress through five instars before moulting to adults. The final three instars have wing pads. There are three to five generations of tarnished plant bug per year.
The insect feeds on stems and flowers, causing flower drop. They also feed on fruit, causing indentations or holes, and corkiness of the flesh, where the fruit is stung by the piercing-sucking mouthparts. The fruit may become misshapen or may crack at the wound.
Often Confused With
Aphids
Stink
bug
Biology
The insect overwinters as an adult in hedgerows, weedy areas and woods. In the spring it migrates to preferred hosts to lay eggs. Nymphs develop on these hosts until their wings develop as they become adults. The insect is most susceptible to control at this time. Because of their relative immobility, cutting alfalfa that has a high population of young nymphs will cause the nymphs to starve.
Period of Activity
The TPB is a sporadic pest, present in Ontario throughout the growing season. In peppers, they are of concern when blossoms or fruit are present. They may move into pepper fields when surrounding vegetation dries up or after nearby cereal or forage harvest.
Scouting Notes
Inspect the fruit for damage. You may find nymphs by shaking the foliage onto a light-coloured surface. Adults move very quickly.
Thresholds
None established.
Management Notes
- Control weed species that are attractive to tarnished plant bugs.
