Lygus bug (Lygus spp.), Hemiptera

Adult lygus bug

Lygus bug biology & life cycle

Adults overwinter along fence rows, ditches and in wooded areas. In spring, adults feed on weeds and volunteers, before moving to other crops. Females lay eggs into stems, leaf midribs or petioles. Eggs hatch and nymphs have five stages. Adults continue feeding until late summer; then move to overwintering sites. One or two generations per year. Feeding by nymphs and adults may cause bud blasting, deformation of young fruit, tissue death, or reduced vegetative growth.

Identifying Lygus bug

Lygus bug: eggs

Eggs are curved and 1 mm long.

Adult

Lygus bug: larvae

All species: 1-4.9 mm long, blue-green, later instars with 5 prominent dark dots on dorsal surface of thorax and abdomen, wing pads present. Nymphs are 1 to 6 mm long, green or yellow-green, with black spots on the back. Young nymphs resemble aphids, but are more active. Nymphs develop prominent black dots on the top of the thorax and abdomen.

Lygus

Lygus bug: adult

Adult lygus bugs are 4 to 7 mm long, rather flat and oval. Color ranges from pale yellow-green with few black markings to almost entirely black with few pale yellow-green markings. Head yellowish-brown, dense hairs on the wing covers, distinct "V" mark on upper third of dorsal surface. Can be confused with the tarnished plant bug, however the this has a sub-median stripe on frons (face), while the lygus bug lacks the submedian stripe.

Lygus bug: management

In canola, damage to buds by Lygus spp. adults will cause the buds to appear shrunken and white in colour.

Recommended solution

Voliam Xpress

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Matador® 120EC

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