Notes on Strawberry Insects
Tarnished plant bugs

Identification

Adults are oval in shape, 4-6 mm long and green to brown in colour with triangular markings in the middle of the back. They fly quickly when disturbed. Nymphs are yellowish or green with elongated antennae. Older nymphs have five dark dots on the back and wing pads. Plant bugs have mouth parts that pierce and suck. They feed on strawberry fruit and bloom, which causes misshapen fruit described as "catfacing" or "button berry." Plant bug injury is similar to injury that results from frost or poor pollination but can be distinguished by the size of the achenes (seeds).

• Plant bug injury: Achenes (seeds) are usually fully developed on misshapen fruit.
  
• Poor pollination: Achenes (seeds) are variable in size, smaller on the injured area of the fruit but fully developed on the undamaged tissue.

Tarnished Plant bug adult

Period of activity

Overwintering plant bug adults move into strawberry plantings in early spring (April). Nymphs appear during strawberry bloom and are active through to the first harvest. There are several generations per year and all stages can be present throughout the summer.

Monitoring and thresholds

Shake blossom clusters and fruit clusters over a white dish or tray. The threshold for control is approximately one nymph in four flower clusters in June bearing varieties. Thresholds might be different for day neutral varieties. Sequential sampling methods have been developed to facilitate sampling. See OMAFRA Factsheet, Tarnished Plant Bug, Order No. 92-108.

Management notes

Manage weeds in and around the plantings but do not mow or burn down weeds when strawberries are in the susceptible stage (bloom-green fruit). Tarnished plant bugs are attracted to fast growing weeds and cover crops. Strawberry fields near alfalfa and hay crops are at greater risk for plant bugs when these crops are mowed. See the Strawberry Calendar for insecticide choices and precautions.

Learn more...

• Notes on Strawberry Diseases and Insects
• Tarnished Plant Bug: A Major Pest of Strawberry, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 92-108
• OMAFRA Publication 360 Strawberry Calendar (non-bearing)
• OMAFRA Publication 360 Strawberry Calendar (fruiting years)
• OMAFRA Publication 360 Fruit Production Recommendations
• OMAFRA Berry Crops Index page
  

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