Includes
Western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus)
Pale legume bug (Lygus elisus)
Pest description and crop damage Lygus bugs are Hemipteran insects with characteristic piercing-sucking mouthparts. Adults are about 0.25 inch in length, half as wide, somewhat hunchbacked, flat on the abdomen, and oval in shape. Immature lygus are smaller than adults and do not have wings. Newly hatched lygus resemble aphids. Lygus bugs can feed on developing seed, rendering it non-viable.
Management-chemical control
- azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5) at 7 to 16 fl oz/A (0.012 to 0.049 lb ai/A). PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. In most cases, apply at high rate. This botanical pesticide acts slowly. Spray early and check for effect. Repeat in 7 to 10 days or as needed. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic production.