Leptoterna dolabrata
Pest description and crop damage Meadow plant bug adults are dirty yellow and dark brown, narrow, about 0.375 inch long, with either short or long wings. They have an unpleasant odor. They suck plant juices and reduce seed yields if abundant. They produce "silver top" by feeding on the stem just above the uppermost node.
Management-cultural control
Open field burns control this pest by killing any adults and nymphs present during burn. Most important, fire destroys the straw in which the eggs overwinter.
Management-chemical control
- bifenthrin (Brigade2EC and WSB) at 0.1 lb ai/A. Apply in spring and fall when insects are present at their economic threshold level. Maximum amount allowed is 0.2 lb ai/A per season. Applications made no less than 14 days apart. PHI 30 days prior to harvest for forage, hay and seed.
- cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.02 to 0.022 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Maximum amount allowed per 5 day interval is 0.022 lb ai/A. Maximum amount allowed per crop season is 0.089 lb ai/A.
- dimethoate (Dimethoate, Dimate) at 0.25 to 0.33 lb ai/A. REI 48 hr. Apply during boot stage. Do not graze or feed hay, forage, seed, or use screenings from treated fields. Seed conditioners must be informed if seed is from a treated field.
- zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang MAX) at 0.0175 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days forage, hay; 7 days straw & seed screenings. REI 12 hr. For forage & hay use no more than 0.10 lb ai/A per season; make subsequent applications no closer than 7 days. For straw and seed screenings use no more than 0.125 lb ai/A per season; make subsequent applications no closer than 17 days.